Burns plans to spread Montana Meth project nationwide – "Not Even Once"

Sen. Conrad Burns introduced a bill Thursday that would take the Montana Meth Project’s http://www.montanameth.org/ advertising and prevention campaign nationwide.

If passed, $25 million in grants would be doled out to local and state governments or nonprofits that have ideas for effective meth awareness and prevention campaigns.

The grants, which could be as much as $5 million each, must be matched dollar for dollar by donations or other local government funds. On reservations, every 50 cents raised would be matched with a dollar of federal money.

Burns said that the Montana Meth Project, funded by software billionaire Tom Siebel, should be the model for the rest of the country. Seibel created and funded the nonprofit organization that hit the airwaves with a dramatic and hard-hitting advertising campaign in August. In the coming months, the group will research the ads’ effectiveness and release new advertisements.

"We just have to follow up with that and make sure that model goes to other states and expands," Burns said. "Because as long as we have a consumer, we’ll always have people to match that demand."

By KIM SKORNOGOSKI
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060217/NEWS01/602170344/1002

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BURNS INTRODUCES METHAMPHETAMINE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION LEGISLATION

Requires Public/Private Partnership for $25 million in Competitive Grants for Effective Prevention Campaigns

Contact: Matt Mackowiak
(202) 224-6830 / (202) 380-8183

U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R – Mont.) Thursday introduced S. 2315, the Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Act of 2006, aimed at supporting local, grassroots campaigns to effectively prevent the use of methamphetamine. These education and awareness campaigns must show an equal, private funding match, doubling the resources available and extending the reach of federal dollars. There’s a lower requirement for the match for rural and Native American communities that face a significant meth problem.

Senator Burns said, “There’s not a neighborhood in Montana that hasn’t been hurt by this terrible drug. It kills the first time, indiscriminately, and we must attack the consumer attitude about meth. Often times, this drug is used by adolescent children in our communities, and we must reward local, grassroots efforts that utilize dynamic images to reach our children. Meth is hurting Montana and our nation, and this bill will dramatically help our communities by supporting proven advertising campaigns.”

The competitive grant program would be administered through the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Senator Burns participated in several media interviews on his meth bill in Washington, D.C. yesterday, and co-hosted a National Town Hall on Meth in Washington in January, which included Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Drug Czar John Walters.

Senator Burns founded the Senate Meth Caucus in 2005, which now has over 30 members. Senator Burns will continue his town halls in the state of Montana through the next few months, including his next one in Great Falls on February 25 at 2:30pm.

http://burns.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&PressRelease_id=1574