By Ed Somers

Drug abuse experts from around the country gathered in Boise on May 17-18 to discuss issues facing mid-sized cities and rural communities in fighting substance abuse and, in particular, methamphetamine (meth).

The work session was sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and led by Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles, who is chair of the Advisory Board of the Conference and co-chair of the Conference’s Drug Control Task Force.

Mayor Coles was joined by Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin who chairs the Conference’s Standing Committee on Criminal and Social Justice.

Attendees at the work session included local, state and federal experts in the fields of prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and research. Included in this group was representation from the National Association of Counties.

In discussing the need for this effort, Mayor Coles commented, "for the first time, America is faced with a drug problem that is moving from smaller, more rural communities to the bigger cities." Coles stressed that this effort can help develop strategies for dealing with meth that will benefit cities of all sizes.

While the majority of meth is imported from Mexico according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it is also being manufactured in The United States from common materials sold in grocery stores, with instructions for making it available on the Internet.

Mayor Griffin commented on the high costs of clean-up for busted meth labs due to their toxic nature, costs which smaller communities often are unable to absorb.

The Conference of Mayors adopted a National Action Plan to Control Drugs in May of 1997 which included a call for action on the growing problem of meth, and has been working on implementation of the recommendations.

During the Boise meeting, the group worked to develop strategies for stemming the tide and reversing the trends of substance abuse, particularly methamphetamine use, in mid-sized cities and rural communities. The objectives for the work session included:

• defining what is known about the size and shape of the problem, and identify examples of how the problem affects communities and rural areas economically and socially;
• identifying challenges and impediments to reducing substance abuse and the commensurate social and economic problems for mid-sized communities and rural America; and
• identifying promising practices and ideas for change in policy, practice and finance.

In preparing for the meeting, Mayor Coles met with top Administration officials including Attorney General Janet Reno, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Barry McCaffrey, Drug Enforcement Administration head Thomas Constantine, and Nelba Chavez, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, all of whom supported this effort and sent top representatives to the Boise meeting.

Also assisting in this effort is the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, led by Joseph Califano, Jr.

• Some of the recommendations from the meeting include:
• better collection and coordination of data on the size of the meth problem in America;
• more treatment resources for jails and prisons;
• drug testing of prisoners prior to release back into communities;
• increased support for drug-free workplaces;
• increased efforts on youth drug prevention with youth driving the agenda;
• insurance parity for mental health and treatment needs;
• substance abuse counselors in schools;
• increased efforts to raise public consciousness and support for prevention, treatment and law enforcement; and
• stronger community coalitions on drug abuse prevention.

It is the intention of Mayor Coles that the work of this group play an integral role in helping to define the size and shape of the problem of substance abuse in America’s mid-sized communities and rural areas, how it affects these communities, and what can be done.

The working group’s recommendations and additional research to be conducted will serve as the basis for a national action plan, strategies for implementing that plan, and the compilation of best practices - all of which will be worked on by a broader group of mayors and local elected leaders.