METH TASK FORCE SUBMITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO GIBBONS

The Governor's Working Group on Methamphetamine Use has submitted
recommendations in categories ranging from treatment to law enforcement.

The 55-page report was turned over to Gov. Jim Gibbons this week.

One of Gibbons' first acts as governor was to form the group, which
includes educators, treatment providers and citizens as well as law
enforcement. Among them are his wife, Dawn, who has been active in
the battle against meth since before her husband's election.

She said Nevadans "must unite to ensure that this devastating drug
is not in our homes, schools or communities."

Also among the 16 members of the panel are Reno Assemblywoman Sheila
Leslie, Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira and Carson Sheriff Kenny
Furlong - who were leaders in the effort which created Carson City's
meth task force more than a year ago.

Many of the recommendations in the report call for increased funding
to protect drug-endangered children, for such things as increased
early intervention services, standards for K-12 prevention education
and greatly expanded treatment programs. It also calls for the
replacement of federal funding lost in the past five years from the
Nevada Juvenile Justice Programs Office.

But there was little discussion during the numerous working group
meetings about how much funding will be needed to implement the
recommendations or where it will come from.

Health and Human Services Director Mike Willden said after a meeting
earlier this month he will develop those figures once the governor
advises him which of the recommendations he wants included in the
2009-2011 budget.

Phil Galeoto, director of public safety, said that is true of the
recommendations involving his department as well.

Many of the other recommendations call for more communication and
cooperation between different agencies dealing with meth addicts and
dealers. They encourage collaboration with community organizations
as well as governmental providers and law enforcement agencies. And
they emphasize the participation of Nevada's tribal communities as well.

Several members of law enforcement on the working group said they
now have a better understanding of the crisis from the point of view
of educators and treatment providers. Clark County Sheriff Doug
Gillespie said education and treatment are essential.

Willden said he was originally concerned the group would focus too
much on law enforcement and prosecution.

"But almost to a 'T,' everybody recognizes that prevention is one of
the key things that's got to happen," he said.

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, who chaired the working
group, said the goal of the report is to present the governor and
Legislature with recommendations they can act on to make a
difference in the battle against meth.

And she said one of the recommendations is that the governor keep
the group working by extending its charter through 2008 and its
agenda beyond meth to all abused drugs.

Masto said at an earlier meeting one of the things the working group
has learned is that meth isn't the only drug that needs this kind of
attention.