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| 14 January 2003 County Holds Line on Methamphetamine Meth Strike Force Report Card Shows Modest But Steady Reductions in Methamphetamine-related Problems SAN DIEGO, CA – San Diego no longer has the unfortunate distinction of being called the “methamphetamine capital of the country.” Today, the San Diego region is experiencing positive and steady gains in the fight against methamphetamine, as shown in the Methamphetamine Strike Force Status Report and Report Card presented by Meth Strike Force co-chairs to the Board of Supervisors today. “Although the indicators are mixed, with both increases and decreases, the report shows a slowed trend of meth use and related problems overall. This trend can be attributed to the persistence of the Methamphetamine Strike Force over the past six years,” said Vice Chair, Board of Supervisors and Second District Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “There has been a decrease among juvenile arrestees testing positive for methamphetamine and the Report Card shows methamphetamine availability down by four percent.” The multi-disciplinary Methamphetamine Strike Force was initiated in 1996 by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, at Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s request. The 70-member organization includes local, state, and federal representatives from public health, law enforcement, judiciary, education, treatment, prevention, and intervention agencies. The Strike Force was established to raise public awareness, foster inter-agency cooperation, integrate health and enforcement strategies, and attract new, methamphetamine-specific, resources to the San Diego region. Through the Strike Force, law enforcement officials throughout the county have been training retailers to recognize when someone buys supplies for a drug lab. Retailers are also learning the laws restricting the sale of such chemicals. “By decreasing availability of key ingredients, the labs can’t produce methamphetamine. Through the efforts of the Strike Force, the San Diego region is making progress toward cutting off those supplies, educating the public and reducing the problem,” added Jacob. “San Diego is holding the line in the fight against methamphetamine and the related problems that spill out into our communities,” said Rodger G. Lum, Ph.D, director of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and co-chair of the Methamphetamine Strike Force. Although there has been a six percent increase in adult arrestees testing positive for meth last year, San Diego now ranks third behind Sacramento and San Jose in adult arrests for methamphetamine.” “We are building on our successes and will continue to work with other counties, law enforcement, and community organizations including a merchant education campaign,” he said. Twenty-six labs were seized in the county during 2001. That’s roughly two percent of the statewide total, and a miniscule portion of the 12,562 meth labs and dumpsites seized nationwide. “Despite the smaller number of labs discovered in the County, methamphetamine is still readily available,” said Jack Drown, Undersheriff, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and co-chair of the Methamphetamine Strike Force. There are large meth labs being found along the San Diego/Tijuana border region and throughout the nation.” The Meth Strike Force maintains a toll-free Meth Hotline, (877) NO 2 METH (619-662-6384) and Web site (www.no2meth.org) for anonymous reporting of illegal drug activity or to receive a confidential referral to a treatment program. From the calls received on the Meth Hotline since it began in December 1996, there have been 137 arrests and 63 convictions to date, representing a conviction rate of 46 percent. The Web site also is an effective mechanism to provide information to the community. The Hotline has received 61 reports that have resulted in referrals to law enforcement for further action. |
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