METH WATCH PROGRAM IS NEW STATEWIDE EFFORT

The Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
(TBI), in partnership with the Governor's Office, the Tennessee Police
Chiefs Association, the Tennessee Retail Association and the Tennessee
Sheriffs Association, has launched the Tennessee MethWatch Program -- a new
statewide effort designed to crack down on the spread of methamphetamines.

"Meth abuse is reaching epidemic proportions in Tennessee, particularly in
rural communities. I want to get serious about cracking down on the
problem," said Gov. Phil Bredesen. "We're working with lawmakers to develop
a comprehensive effort to address the problem, but the MethWatch program
represents a critical first step. The only way to truly address the problem
is to get everyone working together -- from TBI to local law enforcement
officials, from retailers to citizens." The MethWatch program combines a
public information campaign with an intelligence collection system,
centering around a 24-hour TBI meth hotline 877-TNN-METH. It is intended to
provide both a simple and cost-effective means of deterring meth manufacture
and gathering critical intelligence about potential violators for law
enforcement. "Efforts similar to MethWatch have proven very effective in
other places," said TBI Interim Director David Griswold. "The hope is that
by taking initiative statewide, existing efforts to crackdown on the
production of meth can be augmented."