Arizona Funds Six Tribal Anti-Meth Coalitions
By Colleen Copple, CCDO Consultant
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The impact of methamphetamine (or meth) is being felt broadly in counties and tribal communities throughout Arizona, and many rural areas are struggling to find employees who can pass drug tests.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration and state law enforcement officials, the local manufacture of meth is declining, but its importation is on the rise. Access to treatment is limited, and the number of drug-exposed infants is increasing. With these facts in mind, it made sense for the Arizona Governor's Office for Children, Youth, and Families and the Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention to launch Anti-Meth Coalitions in each county and in six tribes.
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Governor Janet Napolitano has made the methamphetamine problem a top priority. Her office hosted a statewide Meth Action Planning Summit January 10–11, 2007, that involved strong tribal participation. There were 425 state and local participants at the summit from sectors such as law enforcement; prosecution; the courts; probation and parole; prevention; treatment; child welfare; media; environmental cleanup; public health; nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations; and other sectors. Attendees developed recommendations for a statewide response to the manufacture, distribution, and use of meth; local action plans for each of Arizona's 22 Anti-Meth Coalitions also were proposed. Many of the statewide recommendations included strategies for resolving jurisdictional issues and increasing access to funding for tribal prevention and treatment services.
The coalitions are using the Strategic Prevention Framework designed by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The prevention model includes six principles:
- Community assessment
- Capacity building
- Strategic planning
- Implementation of evidence-based practices
- Evaluation
- Sustainability and cultural competency
The Anti-Meth Coalitions received $20,000 each to use for the community assessment, capacity building, and planning phases of their local efforts. Participating coalitions were given extensive training and technical assistance in strategic planning, community assessment, and best practices for addressing the use of methamphetamine.
The coalitions are now in phase 2 of the process, and each will receive $30,000 to begin this phase. They are preparing plans they will follow to implement and assess the strategies they developed to combat methamphetamine use in their jurisdictions.
For more information, contact:
Carisa Dwyer
Office of Governor Janet Napolitano
Governor's Office for Children, Youth, and Families
Division for Substance Abuse Policy
602-542-3455
