Courtney and Winters Announce Innovative Solutions to Fight Meth

They say cooperation between the public and private sectors is the key to success.

Meth lab being taken down in Tualatin, Oregon Photo Courtesy: Tualatin Police

(SALEM) - Oregon senators say they have a better idea on how to go about fighting meth, and few in the community would disagree that more innovative solutions to the growing epidemic associated with methamphetamine are necessary. The new ideas stem from reports turned in by a Blue Ribbon task force that was funded by the 2005 legislature.

The findings of the community based Blue Ribbon Task Force on Methamphetamine, charged with coordinating resources to better combat the methamphetamine epidemic, were presented to a legislative committee Thursday. The task force, operating on a grant from the 2005 Legislature and co-chaired by Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and Senator Jackie Winters (R-Salem), provided legislators with an update on the group`s progress. Senate President Peter Courtney outlined for the Legislative Emergency Board the Task Force`s findings, which were:

· Stopping the supply of meth is key to solving the area`s epidemic · Establish the Meth Eradication Team, same model used to stamp out gangs from Marion County · Designating a specific prosecutor for meth cases · Fast track meth cases through the judicial system · Increase bail to $500,000 · Free 25 jail beds to keep meth dealers off the streets `By limiting the supply of meth, we will reduce crime in our neighborhoods," stated Winters. `With concrete steps and the collaborative approach of many diverse interests, we are making a huge step in the fight against this terrible epidemic in our community." `We have a monster of a problem in the form of a meth epidemic in this state and this task force is working hard to fight it," said President Courtney. The specific steps the task force has agreed upon represent a significant step towards the defeat of methamphetamine in the county. Project implementation will require $1.2 million. Efforts are under way to raise that money from both the private and public sectors. This undertaking is being met with sizeable support from local business leaders. `This effort has been successful because individual agendas were set aside for the sake of the common good and welfare of our community," said Winters. `Our local leaders have made it clear that meth and its consequences are not welcome here. I hope this model is something that can be replicated across the state." The task force membership is comprised of individuals that treat, prosecute and prevent meth addiction and associated crime.