Methamphetamine Task Force

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

After two members of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors attended an educational session on methamphetamine at the 2005 NACo National conference, the board formally formed a task force to educate the community about this highly dangerous and addictive drug and the problems associated with its production, distribution, and abuse. The task force, composed of the two board members, several lead agency directors, support staff, community leaders, and business professionals, developed a two-year action plan to protect the health and safety of Gloucester’s citizens. The goals of the task force were to educate and protect citizens, promote resources to help treatment of methamphetamine users, and promote the establishment of a protocol on handling methamphetamine situation in the county. To achieve their goals, they first sponsored community forums featuring a representative from the DEA as well as Matt Farnsworth, a nationally known presenter on meth. They also developed and distributed a resource guide; collaborated with appropriate human resource agencies to address legal, social, and environmental issues associated with the drug’s abuse and production; enlisted media cooperation to educate citizens through school programs, newspaper inserts, and radio interviews; provided presentations to community organizations about the dangers of meth; and attended trials related to methamphetamine offenses.