STATE'S METH ABUSE STUDY STARTS

A new statewide task force kicked off its fight against
methamphetamine abuse this morning.

The 27-members of the Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force held their
first meeting at the Colorado Department of Law building. The group,
funded by a $50,000 grant by the El Pomar Foundation, examines local
prevention, intervention and treatment of meth.

"Meth abuse in Colorado has risen to extremely dangerous levels,"
said Attorney General John Suthers and chair of the group. "The
damage meth inflicts on our communities and economy is immeasurable."

The group is comprised of members from various agencies from around
Colorado. Members provide solutions and evaluate other agencies'
treatment of the meth problem, which Suthers called an epidemic.

One area law enforcement can improve on is communication with other
agencies, said Lt. Lori Moriarty, commander of the North Metro Drug
Task Force. Such as when police bust a meth lab in a house, the
officer should contact social services on providing a proper home for
the children.

"Most times we are focused on the arrests," she said.

In Colorado, there were 149 meth lab incidents in 2005, according to
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Last year, about 31 percent of all people in treatment programs are
meth users, said Janet Wood, director of the alcohol and drug abuse
division in the Department of Human Services. In 2000, there were
only 14 percent meth users in these programs.

The Colorado legislature created the task force during this year's
regular session.