Statewide Meth Conference to Feature National Experts

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Feb. 8, 2006) Attorney General Terry Goddard and Governor Janet Napolitano will host more than 700 participants at the state’s first multi-disciplinary conference on methamphetamine. The conference is scheduled Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13-14, at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

The Arizona Methamphetamine Conference: A Call to Action will focus on public policy and community action for an audience that includes law enforcement, human services, medical professionals, community-based organizations, tribal organizations, the faith community and neighborhood activists.

Goddard welcomes Attorneys General Drew Edmondson of Oklahoma, Mike McGrath of Montana and Wayne Stenehjem of North Dakota. The three have been leaders in the fight against meth in their states.

Edmondson has led the charge to fight meth with groundbreaking legislation adopted in 2004 that reduced meth labs in his state by more than 70 percent. Since Oklahoma adopted this law, more than a dozen states have passed similar statutes. McGrath is leading the charge in Montana to fight the drug through a public awareness campaign that includes public service announcements and resource materials for parents, teachers and community leaders. Stenehjem has the most experience fighting meth in a rural setting. During his tenure as Attorney General, he has worked with pharmacies to move pseudoephedrine products behind the counter and with farmers to secure other precursor chemicals used to produce meth.

Other featured speakers include:

  • Dr. John Martyny, National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Martyny has been working with law enforcement and emergency service organizations to identify chemical exposures involved with the investigation of a meth lab. His research addresses the health effects to investigation personnel, medical personnel, the meth cooks themselves and children found in meth labs. Martyny is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. Monday.
  • Jerry Moe, Betty Ford Center. Moe is an expert on issues related to young children from addicted families. He will discuss the needs of children who have addicted parents or siblings. Moe will be presenting at 4 p.m. Monday.
  • C. West Huddleston, National Drug Court Institute. Huddleston is director for the National Drug Court Institute in Washington, DC. He oversees more than 30 training and technical assistance events each year aimed at improving drug court and other problem solving court operations. Huddleston will be talking about justice strategies for addressing meth addiction and the success with established drug courts throughout the country. Huddleston will be presenting at 11 a.m. Monday.
  • Dr. H. Westley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This agency leads the national effort to provide effective and accessible treatment to all Americans with addictive disorders. Clark will provide a national perspective on substance abuse treatment, including promising approaches and resources to address meth addiction. Clark will be presenting at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.

At 5 p.m. Monday, Goddard will announce the winners of the Stop Meth poster contest. The winners will be recognized and will receive their prizes from Goddard, his wife Monica Goddard and Dave Howell of Wells Fargo.

Attached is a copy of the conference program. Please contact Andrea Esquer at 602-542-8019 if you are interested in one-on-one interviews with any of the featured speakers.