News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2003

Contact: DEA S/A David Jacobson at (313) 234-4220

Methamphetamine Summit Held at Ohio State University

AUG 7-Marion, Ohio- On July 15th and 16th, the State of Ohio Methamphetamine Summit was held at the Ohio State University Marion Campus. The Summit was sponsored by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), and the National Crime Prevention Council. The event was hosted by Attorney General for the State of Ohio Jim Petro.

The summit attendees represented all segments of public service that could be involved in a proactive manner to help reduce methamphetamine use or assist victims of methamphetamine production and distribution. The conference stressed multiplying resources by putting law enforcement, child protective services, education and prevention professionals in touch with each other to reduce barriers and communication gaps allowing the successes of the recent past to act as a catalyst for continued progress in the fight against methamphetamine. While Ohio has seen a marked increase in methamphetamine activity in the last several years, statewide education and training have led to a significantly higher awareness of the problem. Assistance from the agricultural community, child protective services and medical first responders has helped spare Ohio the devastation that has been inflicted upon other Midwest states.

Nearly 250 participants heard from presenters who shared experiences of what they have seen work so that Ohio can expand their methamphetamine strategy to attack the problem in the coming years. The summit specifically sought to include citizen assistance to:

• Establish a sufficient number of regional groups to promote and facilitate the development of community based anti-methamphetamine action teams within the state
• Establish a statewide communications network and technical support mechanism for the community action teams
• Raise the awareness level of the dangers of methamphetamine production, sales and use
• Facilitate the creation of a statewide comprehensive strategic plan that mobilizes resources to prevent and reduce the spread of methamphetamine production and use in Ohio