By Steve Brisendine, The Associated Press
Kansas City, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri’s best chance to continue making headway in its long fight against methamphetamine is in educating the state’s younger residents about the dangers of the drug, Gov. Bob Holden said Wednesday.
“We’ve got to be much more proactive in terms of education,” he said. “I think that’s where we have our greatest opportunity for success. To reach our young people before they even start -- that’s the best thing we could do for the state of Missouri.”
Holden spoke on the final day of his Governor’s Meth Summit Conference, a three-day event that drew about 300 people from around the state in law enforcement, education, emergency response, social service and other organizations that deal with Missouri’s meth program.
Speakers covered topics ranging from the child-safety issues raised by methamphetamine to the stimulant’s history in Missouri, and representatives of the various agencies shared concerns and meth-fighting tips.
“The more we can get together and get our heads together and talk about critical issues, the better off we’re going to be,” Kansas City Police Chief Rick Easley said. “The networking is extremely important in our profession.”
The seizure of 2,860 meth labs in Missouri in 2003 and the first two months of 2004 shows that law enforcement is doing its job, Holden said.
“Success should be when meth is not an issue,” Holden said. “We know we’re a long way from that.”
Earlier this year, Holden signed executive orders creating three anti-meth task forces: one dealing with law enforcement and environmental protection, one with education and prevention, and one with treatment.
“We must address this now,” Holden said Wednesday. “It cannot be left for future generations.”
Those task forces also met at the summit, which coincided with the Missouri Police Chiefs Association’s annual meeting.
___ On the Net: http://www.missourimeth.org