Board Matter
November 20, 2006

Methamphetamine Awareness Day

Mr. Chairman:

The spread of methamphetamine poses a tremendous risk to our community and other communities across our nation. Not only does this highly addictive stimulant impact the lives of the abusers and their families, methamphetamine labs also place neighborhoods in jeopardy because of the risk of fire, damage to the environment, and the increased crime to support addiction.

Raising awareness of the pernicious effects of methamphetamine is an important first step. To increase public knowledge about the drug, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has joined with the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board to deliver a community outreach program called Meth 360. And, at the federal level, the United States Department of Justice aided in drawing attention to the problem by designating November 30, 2006, as National Methamphetamine Awareness Day.

The Police Department and members of the Community Service Board who participate in Meth 360, which is funded by a Justice Department grant under the Community Oriented Policing Services program, are reaching out to educate our citizens about the harm that methamphetamine causes. To date, there have been 16 Meth 360 presentations for community and professional organizations in Fairfax. The Meth 360 program is also being broadcast this month on Fairfax Cable Access, Channel 10.

The participants in Meth 360 seek to ensure preemptively that Fairfax continues to avoid a methamphetamine problem. This educational effort dovetails with the Police Department’s robust enforcement activity, which has resulted in arrests and encouraged an environment in which no labs have thrived. For their efforts, the residents of Fairfax County and the Board are grateful.

Motion:

I move that the Board designate November 30, 2006, as Methamphetamine Awareness Day in Fairfax County, and direct the Office of Public Affairs to prepare and send certificates of recognition to the agencies participating in Meth 360, the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board, for their outstanding efforts to prevent the spread of this dangerous drug.