TASK FORCES TO TACKLE METH

Gov. Bob Holden Launched An Initiative To Stem The Drug's Production And Use

Although the 320 seventh-graders scheduled to attend Gov. Bob Holden's
speech Tuesday were at home enjoying a snow day, the governor still spoke
firmly about a new statewide initiative on methamphetamine education,
prevention and treatment.

Addressing a small crowd of law enforcement officers and state officials
gathered at Lewis and Clark Middle School in Jefferson City, Gov. Holden
emphasized the widespread dangers associated with Missouri's
methamphetamine problem, including addiction, violent behavior and the
environmental hazards related to meth production.

"Meth is a huge menace to our society," Holden said after announcing the
addition of two task forces and the reorganization of an existing task force.

One of the new task forces, the Missouri Methamphetamine Education and
Prevention Task Force, will be made up of specialists in the fields of
education and treatment. The task force will address a number of issues
concerning meth, including the dangers of meth manufacturing and
consumption. It will also establish a central resource for meth-related
information.

The Missouri Methamphetamine Treatment Task Force will promote research
into treatment approaches and examine ways to provide more access to
treatment services. Holden also announced the renaming of an existing
force. Under the new initiative, the Clandestine Lab Task Force will be
called the Methamphetamine Enforcement and Environmental Protection Task Force.

The renamed task force will extend its focus to protecting law enforcement
officers from the environmental dangers associated with meth production.
The governor said Missouri led the nation with nearly 2,800 seizures of
meth labs in 2003. However, Holden said, law enforcement statistics
continue to show a rise in the number of meth labs throughout the state.