TASK FORCE AIMED AT DRUG, ALCOHOL ABUSE

HELENA - In an attempt to combat alcohol and drug abuse in Montana
and establish statewide drug policy, Gov. Judy Martz and Attorney
General Mike McGrath announced Wednesday the creation of a drug
control policy task force.

The 19-member panel will take on a huge array of issues, from drunken
driving to methamphetamine production and abuse. The task force will
also be charged with defining Montana's drug and alcohol problems and
finding ways to curb tobacco sales to minors and explore issues
related to other illegal drugs.

"By the end, we want to create an overall drug policy that all of us
in Montana can work toward," said McGrath said in a Capitol press
conference with the governor.

Martz said she expects the panel, during its 10-month lifespan, to
review current laws and explore anti-drug and alcohol efforts across
Montana. When the task force completes its work, she said, members
should have legislative proposals and a comprehensive drug-control
policy that will coordinate enforcement, education, prevention and
treatment programs.

"The economic and social costs of drug addiction are high, and it is
important that elected officials take determined steps to tackle
these problems," said Martz.

McGrath acknowledged that the job of developing statewide drug policy
is enormous, but he thinks that by breaking out the issues, the task
force can complete its assignment. McGrath said he envisions working
groups made up of task force members, specialists and interest-group
representatives. In all, the process could draw in as many as 50
people.

Martz, a Republican, and McGrath, a Democrat, issued a joint policy
statement to create the task force. The resolution says drug abuse
and trafficking "represent enormous threats to the public health and
safety of Montana and the nation."

The governor said she expects workable proposals from the task force
and she will consider proposals to toughen DUI and other anti-drug
laws. When asked whether she would support changing Montana's legal
blood-alcohol limit for driving from 0.10 percent to 0.08, as federal
law insists, the governor said she thinks the change is inevitable.
Montana stands to lose federal highway funding if lawmakers don't
agree to lower the limit.

"That law will have to be changed at some point," Martz said.

McGrath said he is particularly concerned about methamphetamine
production and use in Montana. He said that in 1996, there was one
meth lab busted and shut down by law enforcement officials in the
state. Last year, there were 86 such busts.

"Obviously, this is an area that's mushrooming," McGrath said.

The task force will be funded for its 10-month run by a $62,500
federal grant from the state Board of Crime Control. Martz said she
expects to appoint task-force members from the Legislature, courts,
law enforcement, tribal governments and other sectors.

Both McGrath and Martz said they would take the panel's finding
seriously and will work to implement feasible suggestions it comes up
with.

"I believe we're both open to anything they bring forward," Martz said.

McGrath said Montana has been criticized for its lack of a statewide
anti-drug policy. Developing that will be an important step for the
task force, he said.

"That's a policy that I don't think will end up sitting on a shelf," he said.