Meth Awareness Week Kicks Off November 30

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Meth Awareness Week will be observed Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4, in an effort to combat the abuse and use of methamphetamine. Meth Awareness Week is coordinated by The Meth Project, a large-scale, teen-targeted prevention program of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, which aims to significantly reduce meth use through public service messaging, public policy and community outreach. The week will kick off with a digital media campaign and social content that ask teens to get involved and take action.

This year's theme, "Raise the Volume," encourages participants to get involved within their communities to help amplify the message of choosing life over meth. With participation from state partners including Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the awareness campaign will launch with various local events and enhanced digital media support.

"Meth is highly addictive and we need to address the devastating effects abuse of the drug can have on our youth and nation," said Marcia Lee Taylor, President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "Meth Awareness Week offers a vital opportunity to educate families and members of the community about the risks of this potentially lethal drug and help encourage teens to make healthy decisions without the use of drugs or alcohol."

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, a public health surveillance system, methamphetamine-related emergency department visits have risen steadily from 2007 to 2011. The Treatment Episode Data Set found over 100,000 admissions to treatment facilities across the country are attributed to meth use. RAND estimates methamphetamine costs the country between $16.2 and $48.3 billion per year in treatment, healthcare and foster care services, as well as the costs of crime and lost productivity associated with the drug.

The research-based program has had a profound effect, first in Montana, where teen meth use has dropped 63 percent and meth-related crime has declined by 62 percent. The success of the Montana Meth Project led to its adoption by five additional states that have seen similar results.

To learn more about Meth Awareness Week, visit The Meth Project on Facebook at facebook.com/methproject and Tumblr at tumblr.com/blog/methproject, and follow the conversation online at #MethAwarenessWeek.

About the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and supporting families impacted by addiction. We develop public education campaigns that drive awareness of teen substance abuse, and lead teen-targeted efforts that inspire young people to make positive decisions to stay healthy and avoid drugs and alcohol. On our website, drugfree.org, and through our toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE), we provide families with direct support and guidance to help them address teen substance abuse. Finally, we build healthy communities, advocating for great access to adolescent treatment and funding for youth prevention programs. As a national nonprofit, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and are thankful to SAG-AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

SOURCE The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Related Links

http://www.drugfree.org