STATE ONE OF FOUR CHOSEN AS SITES FOR METH SUMMIT

Oklahoma is one of four states chosen to host a summit this year to
discuss ways to prevent and reduce methamphe tamine use, it was
announced Monday.

The Oklahoma County district attorneys office has been selected to
host a countywide methamphetamine summit this summer.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Adminis tration, National Crime Prevention
Council and Community Oriented Polic ing Services has created a
partnership with District Attorney Wes Lane to de velop a plan to
prevent and reduce meth amphetamine use.

Asa Hutchinson, DEA administrator, said, Today, Oklahoma County is
ranked No. 1 in the state for methamphe tamine lab investigations and
use.

Lane said he began promoting Okla homa County for this program in Sep
tember while he was in Washington.

We are just thrilled the district attor neys office has been chosen,
Lane said.

Federal officials will help with the summit, and also will provide
technical assistance to Oklahoma County for 1 1/2 years, Lane said.

The goal of the summit is to create a comprehensive strategic plan for
meth amphetamine prevention, treatment, en forcement, education and
continuing care needs for this area.

Lane has invited about 40 people to the first planning meeting at 2
p.m. today CM+NT tue., cq. photo assignment made for press conference
at 1:30 p.m. in the ceremonial courtroom on the eighth floor of the
Oklahoma County Court house.

Nationally, as in Oklahoma County, the rise in the number of meth
amphetamine labs is largely be cause of local entrepreneurs who
operate on the periphery of the methamphetamine market, Hutchinson
said.

These local entrepreneurs exploit the continuing demand for the drug
by producing smaller amounts of meth in less complex laboratories -
often their home kitchens - with household products purchased at a
local store, Hutchinson said.

James E. Copple, prevention council vice president, said, Five years
ago the DEA warned the nation about the rapid rise of methamphetamine
use in this country.

That warning is now being taken very seriously as our country deals
with the conse quences of this highly addictive substance.

The meth summits are an important part of our response to the
methamphetamine explo sion.

The summit is planned to create a coordinated county wide effort to
mobilize re sources to prevent and reduce the methamphetamine problem.

Its going to take every one of us - DEA agents, state and local law
enforcement, preven tion and treatment specialists, journalists and
educators - if we are going to make a real dif ference in those
communities devastated by methampheta mines, Hutchinson said.