Working together to prevent substance abuse
In Montana, when we have a problem to solve, we look across our community for how best to tackle that problem. We seek help from our schools, churches, business leaders, public services and public officials.
I recently witnessed this camaraderie when businesses in Miles City, Bozeman and Whitehall burned to the ground. Not only did folks from all over the state volunteer to lend a helping hand, communities joined together to discuss ways to prevent future catastrophes.
Preventative dialogues are nothing new in Montana. For decades, we have openly discussed statewide drug problems including the use of methamphetamines. In my tenure as a public official, it has become evident that working together to prevent substance abuse is a clear solution.
In 2001, former Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath and I began working on statewide efforts to spread the word about the devastation caused by meth in our local communities. McGrath worked with law enforcement entities on communitywide efforts.
As Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I focused on efforts within our schools. Utilizing a grant from the Attorney General's Office, we produced a "Tools for Schools' kit that contained 10 dynamic presentations that we sent to all middle schools and high schools in the state.
With these combined efforts and many more, students, teachers, parents, law enforcement officials and community members were all becoming familiar with this dangerous drug. In 2007, we evaluated our efforts regarding meth use as reported in the Office of Public Instruction biennial "Youth Risk Behavior Survey" (YRBS), which was administered to high school students.
In 1999, 13.5 percent of Montana high school students reported using meth one or more times in their lifetimes. The 2007, YRBS reported that meth use had dropped to 4.6 percent — a 66 percent decrease since 1999.
Research showed that meth use among high school students was decreasing an average of 15 percent every two years, except between the 2005 survey and the 2007 survey, which revealed a 45 percent decline in meth use.
During this interim, another meth prevention resource entered the Montana scene. After just 18 months of exposure to the Montana Meth Project, which began in 2005, the rate of meth use declined from 8.3 percent to 4.6 percent — a decline of more than three times the average prior rate.
The advertising used by the Montana Meth Project is direct, realistic and appropriately scary. These ads captured our attention and have kept it. Using meth is beyond uncool, and I think the message is finally out there.
Recently, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau released the 2009 "Youth Risk Behavior Survey" results. Meth use among high school students has further declined to 3.1 percent. That's a 63 percent drop in teen meth use in Montana since 2005.
But we can't be done yet, not as long as even one of our kids is using meth or any other illegal substance. When we are combating anything that is devastating to our Montana children, families and communities, we need to use every resource available. We need the public and private sector working together to further educate our kids and their parents about the dangers of meth use.
By working together, Montanans can achieve sustained, long-term progress in defeating this meth epidemic once and for all. We are the solution, and I am confident that our children have a promising future that is free of substance abuse.
Linda McCulloch was elected Secretary of State in November 2008. She previously served eight years as the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and is currently positioned on the Advisory Council to the Montana Meth Project.