NCAI Meth Task Force Unveils Methamphetamine Toolkit for Tribes at Organization's Mid-Year Session in Anchorage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Adam McMullin at 202-422-8416 or amcmullin@ncai.org

Kraynal Alfred at 202-466-7767 or kraynal_alfred@ncai.org

NCAI Meth Task Force Unveils Methamphetamine Toolkit for Tribes at Organization's Mid-Year Session in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE-June 11, 2007-The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Methamphetamine Task Force unveiled its new interactive toolkit to fight methamphetamine abuse in Indian Country at the organization's Mid-Year Session in Anchorage, AK. NO METH. In Tribal Communities is a comprehensive planning toolkit for tribal leaders and educators to utilize in the fight on methamphetamine abuse and trafficking.

"This is groundbreaking in terms of having tools to fight meth abuse that is specifically tailored for tribal communities," said NCAI President Joe A.Garcia. "We have been hearing over and over from tribal leaders that they need guidance in helping them deal with the onslaught of meth abuse and trafficking. This toolkit will be an instrumental educational tool for tribal leaders and educators."

The toolkit includes a leader's guide compiled by the Tribal Meth Education, Training and Help Center at Montana University Extension and the NCAI Meth Task Force; examples of tribal codes for criminalizing meth and helping with meth lab clean up; and in-depth presentation guides focusing on the effect of meth on the brain and signs of meth use. The toolkit also includes information cards for different businesses in our communities, such as motels and agricultural product stores, so then can look for signs of the purchase of meth ingredients and production.

The taskforce has been working diligently on this toolkit to provide tribes with much needed resources they need to keep meth out of our communities.

Garcia was joined at a press conference to unveil the toolkit by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Carl Artman, who reiterated the need for such educational materials to help educate tribal communities.

"The rise in crime related to methamphetamine production, distribution, and use alone has hit tribal communities exceedingly hard. Tribal leaders have described in vivid detail the effect this dangerous and highly addictive drug is having on their citizens and have expressed the need for materials to help them shut it down," said Artman. "These materials will be a tremendous tool in this effort. Secretary Kemphthorne and I continue to be committed to improving Indian Affairs' response to the methamphetamine and violent crime problems that continue to plague Indian Country."

Full details on the toolkit and the information on placing orders will be posted on the NCAI website at www.ncai.org. NCAI's Mid-Year Session runs through Wednesday, June 13. For more information call Adam McMullin at 202-422-8416 or amcmullin@ncai.org.