What Are Methamphetamine Programs/Strategies?

There are a variety of programs and strategies that have been implemented to address issues surrounding the use, manufacture, and distribution of methamphetamine (meth). Treatment and prevention programs, law enforcement strategies, limiting access to precursor chemicals, and media and public service campaigns represent some of the more common programs and strategies used.

Various treatment methods originally developed for general or specific drugs (such as cocaine) are being implemented to treat meth abusers. Some of the more common meth treatments include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - involves the identification and replacement of distorted thinking patterns with more rational, adaptive thoughts and actions.
Community Reinforcement - involves the use of social, recreational, familial, vocational and other community reinforcers to encourage abstinence.
Contingency Management (CM) - uses rewards and punishments to assist participants in recovery (CM components are commonly used in drug courts).
The Matrix Model - includes individual counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, family education, self-help 12-step programs, and drug use monitoring.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy - focuses on enhancing a participant's motivation to change and treatment sessions designed to promote abstinence and coping strategies.
Pharmacological Treatments - uses medications to alleviate symptoms associated with withdrawal and/or cravings.

Many programs targeting general drug use have been developed to prevent substance use among youth. However, some media and public service campaigns, such as The Partnership for a Drug-Free America "Meth Stories: Affecting Your Community" web site, have been developed for youths and parents that exclusively focus on preventing meth use and changing perceptions of the dangers associated with meth use.

Limiting access to chemicals used to manufacture meth is a popular strategy to reduce meth production. Attempts to limit access include state and federal laws restricting, for example, large scale purchases of pseudoephedrine, and voluntary programs such as Methwatch in which retailers limit access to precursor chemicals, report suspicious purchases to the police, and raise public awareness of the problem through activities including distribution of educational materials and hosting community meetings.

General drug control strategies including enforcement, interdiction, and reduction efforts are used by law enforcement to combat the manufacture, possession, and sale of meth. Examples of law enforcement efforts include clandestine drug lab seizures, partnerships with local agencies, information sharing between jurisdictions and agencies, Multijurisdictional Drug Task Forces, and Metropolitan Enforcement Groups.

BJA Supported Resources Related to Methamphetamine Programs/Strategies

Institute for Intergovernmental Research, Center for Task Force Training
MethResources.gov

Other Resources for Methamphetamine Programs/Strategies

Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC)
Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies
KCI: The Anti-Meth Site
MethamphetamineAddiction.com
Meth Watch Program
National Association of Counties, Meth Action Clearinghouse
National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD)
National Institute on Drug Abuse InfoFacts: Methamphetamine
National Drug Intelligence Center
National Tribal Resource Center, Methamphetamine Tools and Resources
Neuropsychiatric Institute, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
Office of National Drug Control Policy: Methamphetamine
SAMHSA Office of Applied Studies (Amphetamines/Methamphetamines)
UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

State and Local Methamphetamine Program/Strategy Resources

California Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Program (CLEP)
Colorado Meth Lab Cleanup Program
Georgia Meth Watch Program
Illinois MethNet
Iowa Meth Watch Program
Kansas Clandestine Drug Lab Cleanup Program
Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project
Kansas Meth Watch Program
Maine Meth Watch Program
METH Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota (MAPP-SD)
Meth Free Mesa County Meth Task Force (Colorado)
Meth Free Tennessee
Michigan Meth Watch Program
Minnesota Meth Lab Cleanup Program
Minnesota Meth Watch Program
Mississippi Meth Watch Program
Montana Meth Project
Butte County, Nebraska Methamphetamine Strike Force
North Dakota Retail Meth Watch Program
Oregon Drug Lab Cleanup Program
Salt Lake City Police Meth Initiative
South Carolina Meth Watch Program
Tennessee Meth Watch Program
Texas, Operation Meth Busters
Virginia Methamphetamine Reduction Initiative
Washington Meth Watch Program
The Wyoming Meth Initiative

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