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History of the Alaska Meth Education Project “AME” (pronounced “Amy”) Project Meth use and production is on the rise in Alaska. According to the Department of Public Safety, meth production arrests have doubled and distribution arrests have quadrupled since 2001. The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 6.7% of 9th graders, 8.0% of 12th graders, and 6% of Alaskan high school students had used meth at least once. The Alaska Meth Education project is being developed as a statewide response to the growing Methamphetamine problem in Alaska. In April 2006, MSB Mayor Tim Anderson approached U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski about the federal funds available to address the growing meth problem in Alaska. Other states were receiving these funds on an earmark basis, why not Alaska? Mayor Anderson was asked to go back to Alaska and organize a local effort and bring her back a plan and program and she would help. Working with the Tri-Borough Commission, Mayor Anderson approached the five large population area governments (Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kenai, Juneau, and Fairbanks) to join the effort to start a statewide meth education campaign to educate Alaskans about the dangers of meth and to prevent youth from trying meth even once. Each of the five areas has made a financial commitment to this project. During the last week of the 2006 Legislative session Alaska State Representative Jay Ramras joined the effort and put $100,000 in the State budget to help fund the project. A statewide inventory was done in October 2006 to find out what meth education and prevention programs are available in Alaska so the project wouldn’t duplicate efforts. Research on the best practices in meth prevention and education has been ongoing since April 2006. This project will incorporate those practices in its approach to the meth problem. The Meth Education Project is aimed at preventing youth from trying meth and educating all Alaskans about the meth problem in our state. A statewide strategic plan, including a media campaign consisting of TV, radio and print ads, is currently being developed as part of this project. A task force, consisting of two representatives from each of the five communities, has been formed to advise and monitor the program. This task force will meet on a regular basis. Updates will be posted to this website.
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