STATE'S ANTI-METH PROGRAM GETS FEDERAL GRANTS

Tennessee's fight against methamphetamine abuse has received almost
$1 million for after school programs to develop messages against use
of the drug.

The money comes through federal grants designated to assist programs
in developing messages to help children stay away from the drug and
encourage them to help their peers avoid it.

The federal grants were awarded to the Tennessee Commission on
National and Community Service, which is a partner in the state's
program. The state could receive up to 25 sub-grants, each totaling
$10,000, for the next three years. The commission will award funds
to local programs in the fall.

Gov. Phil Bredesen initiated the state's anti-meth effort three
years ago. In the past, the state has ranked second in the nation in
meth lab incidents and the state shut down over 1,500 labs in 2004.
The Meth-Free Tennessee Act seeks to attack the root of the problem,
restricting the purchase of pharmaceutical products commonly used to
manufacture the drug.