NEW MEXICO INIATIVE

Alliance creates state-level methamphetamine model

New Mexico, like most of the states tackling a widespread methamphetamine problem, has attempted to create specific legislative solutions without always having a plan for a broader, comprehensive response.
Alliance New Mexico director Reena Szczepanski explains, “What we saw last (legislative) session was that piecemeal legislation was being introduced. Nobody had an overall vision of what to do around methamphetamine.” The Alliance is hoping to change that, and at the same time create a model for other states to follow.

The Alliance's New Mexico office has created a statewide methamphetamine working group, co-chaired by Szczepanski and Herman Silva, New Mexico's Drug Czar. The group met for the first time last week, with about 20 people coming together from a variety of groups that have a stake in the state's methamphetamine policies: local and state law enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Mexico Department of Health, treatment providers, harm reduction activists and academic researchers. At the meeting, the group brainstormed strategies to solve current problems, such as the lack of treatment resources in the state. The group also agreed on a common objective: to create an evidence-based, comprehensive strategy to reduce the negative consequences in New Mexico resulting from methamphetamine use. “We would like for any person in the state who is concerned about methamphetamine to be able to pick up this document and feel excited about our vision and join our efforts,” said Szczepanski.

The next step is an all-day policy summit on September 7, which will be larger, including more community members as well as the state's Children, Youth and Families Department. The participants will discuss data around existing methamphetamine policies, identify current efforts and where the gaps are in those efforts, and assess what is working. They will then divide into four groups, where they will create strategies around prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement.
From this meeting will arise a statewide strategy document which can be used to create a comprehensive legislative package. This will help New Mexico to avoid situations like the current one in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has an extremely stringent policy around methamphetamine precursors — the ingredients used to make the drug — and has seen a dramatic drop in the number of labs in the state. However, Oklahomans are still using methamphetamine, and there are not adequate policies in place to get them the treatment they need. Szczepanski says, “There's no one magic bullet. It does have to be comprehensive, and we have to think through what exactly the results are on the policies we pass.”

This model could be a blueprint for other states to create comprehensive methamphetamine policies as well.
On August 18, Szczepanski is speaking at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Seattle, where she will share the New Mexico process with policymakers from across the country.

16 August 2005

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/081605newmexico.cfm

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