METH USE DECLINES IN STATE, REPORT SHOWS

HELENA - Methamphetamine use in Montana seems to be declining, a new
report shows, although the social costs of the addictive drug remain
very high, costing the state about $10 million a year.

"We have a long way to go," said Attorney General Mike McGrath, who
announced the report Wednesday. "This doesn't mean we've necessarily
turned the corner, but we're certainly going around the bend."

Major Role In Crime

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug "cooked" from some cold
medicines and a laundry list of other ingredients. Compared with
other drugs, meth is relatively new, but it quickly gained foothold
in Montana in the past 15 years. It plays a major role in Montana
crime and has pumped up costs of the state's social welfare and
correctional systems. In recent years, however, lawmakers and private
people have tried to get a handle on the drug. Beginning in 2005, the
privately funded Montana Meth Project began airing graphic
television, radio and billboard ads driving home the unglamorous
realities of meth use.

Software entrepreneur Tom Siebel bankrolled the project to the tune
of many millions of dollars. Late last year, Seibel announced a $5
million grant to the program that will match donations made by other
businesses.

In 2005, lawmakers passed a package of laws aimed at better treating
meth-addicted criminals and going after some of the raw ingredients of meth.

Those efforts seem to be paying off, McGrath said.

Ninety-three percent of Montana middle and high school students now
say using meth is a "grave risk," according to the report.

McGrath attributes that figure directly to the Montana Meth Project.

No Glamour In Meth

"There are things in the media that would give kids the impression
that maybe cocaine has some glamour," McGrath said, or marijuana and
alcohol. But there is nothing suggesting meth is glamorous, and the
Meth Project ads drive home how unpleasant a meth addict's life can
quickly become, he said.

Meth use and meth-related crimes also appear to be on the decline.
Workplace drug testing shows a 73 percent drop in the number of
people testing positive for meth, the reports shows, the biggest
state decline in the nation. Teenagers also report a drop in meth
use, down from 13.5 percent of all teens using meth to 8.3 percent.

Drug tests on criminals charged with drug possession also show a drop
in positive meth tests. In 2005, 56 percent of such criminals tested
positive for meth. In 2006, that figure dropped to 25 percent.

Additionally, meth-related crimes dropped by 53 percent in 2006 after
increasing for years.

The number of drug labs is also declining, the report shows. In 2006,
15 meth labs were found in Montana. Since last October, none has been found.

McGrath attributes that to the difficulty of buying meth's main
ingredient, cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

But he said meth has not disappeared. It's probably just coming into
the state from someplace else, he said.

While it is difficult to catch a drug trafficker, McGrath said, it's
still positive that Montana has fewer meth labs, which are
environmental and fire hazards and are unsafe for children.

McGrath said he expects the numbers of teens who use meth to continue
to fall as kids exposed to the Montana Meth Project ads at an earlier
age become older and are more likely to be offered the drug.

The report was preliminary, McGrath said, adding that a final report
will probably take another year of work. But the early results are
very promising.

"It does indicate an early trend," he said.