ABOUT US

By using consumer marketing and advertising strategies as the basis for its outreach, the Meth Project has been repeatedly cited as a powerful private sector response to a devastating social problem. It was recognized by the White House as one of the nation's most powerful and creative anti-drug programs.

Recent survey data in Montana, where the Meth Project first initiated its prevention campaign in 2005, demonstrates attitudes and behaviors toward Meth have changed since the campaign launched. The Montana Attorney General has issued data showing that Meth use and related crime has been on the decline in this same timeframe. In addition Montana's Youth Risk Behavior Survey released in June 2009, found that Meth use among teens in the state has dropped drastically since the Meth Project launch in 2005.

Arizona has seen similar results, recent survey data in Arizona demonstrates attitudes and behaviors toward Meth have changed, and teen meth use has decreased significantly since the campaign launched.

RESULTS

ARIZONA METH PROJECT SUMMARY RESULTS

The Problem

The estimated cost of Meth abuse to Arizona in 2005 was $850 million¹
Teen Meth use in 2006 was almost twice the national average²
14 is the average age that Arizona teens first try Meth³
In 2006 Arizona ranked #1 for Meth positive workplace drug testing⁴
36% of adult arrestees booked into Maricopa County jails in 2007 tested positive for Meth⁵

IMPACT

Arizona Market Results Since Program Launch in 2007:

Lifetime Meth use declined by over 50% among 8th and 10th graders⁶
Meth use in the past 30 days declined by over 64%, among 8th and 10th graders⁷
Perceived risk of trying meth just once or twice has risen among teens—85% now say there is "great" or "moderate risk" in trying the drug just once or twice (up 12 points)⁸
Teens are more likely to believe there is "great" risk the following may happen after trying meth just once or twice: getting hooked (94%, up 7 points), becoming violent (81%, up 7 points), turning into someone they don't want to be (89%, up 8 points), dying (83%, up 8 points), stealing (75%, up 8 points), neglecting personal hygiene (79%, up 9 points), and getting insomnia (78%, up 11 points)⁹

"For years, meth has been the number one problem for law enforcement in Arizona. The Arizona Youth Survey demonstrates overwhelmingly that meth-prevention programs such as the Arizona Meth Project are succeeding and keeping our children safe from this deadly drug."

Terry Goddard, Arizona Attorney General

Results in Arizona and Montana have proven the effectiveness of the Meth Project's prevention campaign. As a model prevention program for states nationwide, the Meth Project has expanded into Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, and Wyoming. Additional states are expected to launch in the coming year.

¹Estimate based on RAND, The Economic Cost of Methamphetamine Use in the United States, 2005
²Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Arizona Youth Survey 2006
³Arizona Meth Use and Attitudes Survey, 2007
⁴Office of National Drug Control Policy, Pushing Back Against Meth: A Progress Report on the Fight Against Methamphetamine in the United States, 2006
⁵Arizona State University, Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, Arizona Arrestee Reporting Information Network, Annual Adult Report 2007, June 2008
⁶Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Arizona Youth Survey 2008
⁷Ibid.
⁸Arizona Meth Use and Attitudes Survey, 2008
⁹Ibid.