The National Methamphetamine
Drug Conference
National Conference Summary
Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that can produce extreme aggressiveness and violence. Historically, concentrated abuse of this drug was in the West and Southwest but is now reported to be spreading to the Midwest and the eastern portion of the United States. Methamphetamine production entails extreme environmental risks. Clandestine laboratories produce large amounts of toxic waste, much of which is dumped into the ground or in waterways. The cost to clean up these chemical toxins can easily run into thousands of dollars per site.
Given the resurgence of methamphetamine abuse, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) convened the National Methamphetamine Drug Conference, May 28-30, 1997, in Omaha, Nebraska. The purpose of the conference was to gather information for refining the national methamphetamine strategy by assessing current trends and soliciting recommendations from experts on methods to reduce the methamphetamine threat.
The structure of the conference was key to its effectiveness. A national perspective on this problem required the collective effort of public and private-sector agencies and organizations. Experts from the fields of law enforcement, prevention, and treatment at federal, state and local levels were invited, as were business and public interest groups from across the country. More than 375 attendees from thirty-five states and territories as far away as Guam participated. Fifteen informative exhibits helped illustrate the problem and demonstrate initiatives against methamphetamine abuse.
The conference provided a fitting agenda for this broadly representative group. At the morning session, plenary presentations summarized the methamphetamine problem, including an historical overview of stimulant abuse in the United States, a treatment segment on the physiological effects of methamphetamine abuse, a research presentation with current usage data taken from drug arrestees, and an intelligence briefing about methamphetamine trafficking patterns and production methods. A question and answer period followed each presentation.
During the afternoon session, conference participants gathered in six working groups to discuss key areas and develop recommendations for future efforts. The working groups reviewed prevention, education, treatment, clandestine labs, drug courts, and precursor chemical control. The following morning each working group presented a summary of its discussions and specific recommendations for the strategy.
The second day included a panel discussion among medical experts ranging from academic researchers to hospital physicians. A National Drug Control Strategy presentation demonstrated the importance of the conference to the national plan. In support of the conference, keynote addresses by Attorney General Janet Reno, Senator Bob Kerrey, Governor Ben Nelson, and DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine highlighted efforts underway.
The following document chronicles the conference proceedings. Appendices include the conference agenda and an overview of working-group briefings and discussions. ONDCP encourages readers to share this report widely.
