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Brian
Baird
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Brian Baird
U.S. Congress
"I am deeply concerned about the growing
methamphetamine problem, especially in Southwest Washington. Since taking office, I have
been working actively with Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, local law enforcement officials,
and other anti-drug leaders in our region to fight meth and protect our communities." (Read Congressman Baird’s complete statement.)
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George Nethercutt
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George
Nethercutt
U.S. Congress
"I have worked closely
with government leaders, state officials, county sheriffs and community
activists to attack this problem. In 1997, I was selected to serve on the
House Speaker's Drug-Free America Task Force, and I am an active member of
the House Methamphetamine Caucus. These two groups have met numerous times
to discuss meth and larger drug issues."(Read Congressman
Nethercutt's complete statement.)
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Dave
Rodriguez
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Northwest HIDTA
Dave Rodriguez, Director
"The
NWHIDTA not only supports interdiction efforts, but also law enforcement
efforts to dismantle meth labs as well as funding for public education,
such as this Web site, and other community awareness programs (See Project
Safe)> We understand the importance of prevention and education
programs to help reduce the consumption of this drug and to increase
public awareness of the dangers involved in the use and manufacturing
process."
(More on meth and the HIDTA Threat Assessment.)
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Kate
Greenquist
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Department of Justice
Kate Greenquist
"Methamphetamine creates a level of risk
unsurpassed by other illegal drugs. Not only is its impact found in the devastation to
users and their friends and families, but in its environmental consequences and the
incredible costs involved in meth lab clean-up. Meth is creating a multi-layered and
ever-growing threat. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington is
committed, not only to the successful prosecution of meth manufacturers and distributors,
but to the treatment and prevention programs so necessary to eliminate the demand for this
devastating drug."
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John M.
Bott
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Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) Seattle Field Div.
John M. Bott, Special Agent in Charge (SAC)
"DEA is actively
involved in education efforts designed to reduce the demand for drugs in
communities throughout the State of Washington. Of particular concern to
this region is the increased use and manufacture of methamphetamine. This
drug is cheap, readily available and, like marijuana, considered a local
or homegrown drug. During 2001 methamphetamine- related drug violations
accounted for 44.6% of the arrests made by the DEA Seattle Field Division
(Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska). This is a result of combined
efforts by DEA, State and Local law enforcement. Methamphetamine
clandestine laboratory activity increased steadily from over the previous
year."
(More about DEA's Demand Reduction Program)
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Governor
Locke
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Governor Gary Locke
"Methamphetamine is a deadly and growing
threat to our citizens. Each year it takes a greater toll in human health, public safety,
and damage to property and the environment. We’ve doubled sentences for manufacturing
meth and strengthened other laws against meth labs. We’ve expanded the State
Patrol’s meth lab response team. But we have to keep working together to stop the
spread of this most dangerous drug."
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Lt.Gov.
Owen
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Lt. Governor Brad Owen
"We cannot expect law enforcement to
single-handedly solve our state’s latest, and perhaps most serious, drug problem,
methamphetamine use. The number of increased meth labs and use of this drug by our youth,
should be a warning that we need to take a holistic approach if we are going to make a
difference. Collaborative education and prevention efforts that include law enforcement
and treatment professionals is the first step in reducing the use of this drug in our
state. I am fortunate to be a part of this education effort through the development of
this web site and by having the opportunity to address this issue in many of my speaking
engagements."
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Governor's
Council
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Governor's Council on Substance
Abuse
Carol Owens, Staff Director
”Since 1995 the Governor's
Council on Substance Abuse has advocated for public action to eliminate
the illegal manufacture and trafficking of Methamphetamines in Washington
State.“ (More on Governor's Council on
Substance Abuse)
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Steve
Hunter
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Department of Ecology
Steve Hunter
"…while most of us had some general sense
that the drug scene was going to get worse, I doubt many of us predicted the explosion
that was to come in meth labs. Today, with labs breaking the 700 mark for 1999, Ecology
still provides a clean up service to all cities and counties with the same number of
staff." (Steve Hunter’s complete statement.)
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Carolyn
Comeau
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Washington State Department of Health
Clandestine Drug Lab Program
Carolyn Comeau, Coordinator
Carolyn is the Coordinator for the
Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety,
Clandestine Drug Lab Program. The Division’s responsibilities include
certifying decontamination contractors and maintaining a database of
contaminated sites. (Office
of Environmental Health and Safety Web Site .) As Carolyn states: Communities through out Washington State are experiencing a dramatic
increase in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. Fifteen counties
account for nearly 95% of all methamphetamine activity. (Carolyn
Comeau's complete statement.) Carolyn.Comeau@DOH.WA.GOV
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Kenneth D. Stark
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Washington State Division of
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Department of Social and Health Services
Kenneth D. Stark, Director
The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse is the
primary state agency that funds and regulates alcohol/drug treatment and prevention
services. Over the past six years we have seen a seven-fold increase in methamphetamine
treatment admissions. While the demand for alcohol/drug treatment far outweighs the public
resources available, the division and its stakeholders have been working closely with
social service and law enforcement to curb the deleterious effects methamphetamine has on
individuals, families, and communities. Treatment outcomes continue to be
positive for individuals receiving public funded treatment for
methamphetamine. (Ken Stark's complete
statement.)
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