MISSOULA'S PEG SHEA TO RUN NEW METH PROJECT

A Missoula social worker and drug prevention expert has been named
executive director of the statewide Montana Meth Project - a $5.6
million anti-drug campaign that aims to quash teen addiction.

Peg Shea will assume the new position at the beginning of October,
leaving her 12-year post as executive director of Western Montana
Addiction Services in Missoula.

"My commitment in taking this position is to focus all of my
professional resources and experience toward one goal - prevention," Shea said.

A licensed addiction counselor and an original member of the Montana
Meth Project's advisory council, Shea brings nearly 30 years of
experience in counseling and addiction services to the campaign.

Tom Siebel, chairman of the Montana Meth Project, said Shea has been
one of the primary engineers of prevention strategy in Montana during
the last decade.

"She's a passionate problem-solver who knows how to mobilize the
community and its resources - she's the absolute right person for the
job," Siebel said.

Siebel, a software executive and part-time Montana resident, founded
the Montana Meth Project in February. The campaign has since garnered
wide support from state officials.

On Sept. 1, the project unveiled the first wave of its ad campaign,
launching a series of shocking, graphic radio and television spots
that directly target Montana teens.

Television ads portray teenagers spiraling into the grips of meth
addiction, depicting their gruesome transformation from normal,
healthy teenagers into drug-addled zombies.

The radio spots feature real Montana teens from towns like Missoula,
St. Regis, Browning and Victor who discuss their addictions in honest detail.

The teens relate their struggles with meth, at times going into
shocking descriptions of their hair falling out, their gums turning
brown or compulsive skin-picking.

In one radio commercial, a teenage girl describes selling her body in
exchange for meth. The ages of the Montana teens vary from 12 to 17.

Shea said the ads seek to dramatically reduce first-time
methamphetamine use among teens.

And while she said most of the public's feedback has been positive
and encouraging, some viewers are disturbed by the graphic images.

"There have been some comments about how this is impacting smaller
children because of showtimes early in the day," Shea said. "Because
of this we made a policy decision to no longer show the TV ads until
after 7 p.m."

But Shea said the campaign reflects what teenagers agree is the best
deterrent to drug-use - the truth.

"In our surveys, teenagers said they want hard-hitting facts and
information about meth addiction," Shea said. "That's what we're giving them."

The campaign's first groundswell occurred in August, when the Montana
Meth Use and Attitudes Survey collected information from more than
1,200 respondents in Montana.

The survey found that 45 percent of Montana teenagers ages 12 to 17
report that meth is readily available, second only to marijuana.

Montana ranks in the top quartile of all states for meth abuse,
outranking 39 states.

The Montana Meth Project has one mantra - "Not Even Once" - which
centers on the drug's addictive power.

According to research, a person can become addicted to meth after
using it to get high just one time.

In November, movie theaters across Montana will begin showing
anti-meth commercials.

The Montana Meth Project will continue its advertising campaign
through December 2006, and will monitor its progress with three more surveys.

But Shea said she'll look at ways to sustain the effort.

"This is a primary prevention effort and it needs to be longer than
just two years," Shea said.

To keep the ball rolling, Shea said, the campaign is moving into its
outreach phase, trying to get the public involved.

"We need the energy of everyone who wants to do something about this
problem," Shea said. "We're really open to creative approaches to
this problem, and we take those ideas to heart."

The campaign's advertising value alone is $3.2 million, $1.6 million
of which is donated.

The project is funded by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation.
Siebel is the chairman of Siebel Systems, a software company in
California. The couple own two ranches near Wolf Point and Grass Range.