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METH PROJECT

Nevada leaders review ad campaign started in Montana

WASHINGTON -- A "scared straight" style of advertising campaign that presents uncomfortable and sometimes shocking portrayals of methamphetamine use is being reviewed by Nevada leaders after it has been credited for reducing drug use dramatically in Montana.

One print ad displays a middle-aged woman sitting on a kitchen floor, bleeding and bruised. "My mom knows I'd never hurt her. Then she got in the way," the copy reads in bold lettering.


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  • Another shows a dirty, trash-covered toilet stall. "No one thinks they'll lose their virginity here," the copy reads. "Meth will change that."

    On television, a 30 second ad shows a teenage girl wearing little clothing and covered in open sores, hunched over on a bed, moments after her boyfriend has pimped her to an older man for meth.

    The campaign originated in Montana in 2005, funded by billionaire businessman Tom Seibel. With studies suggesting the ads have been effective, Seibel's organization, the Meth Project, is exporting it to other states.

    Nitsa Zuppas, Meth Project executive director, said officials have held discussions with Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

    "It was a high level discussion about the program, the issues in Nevada and how The Meth Project might address the problem in other states," Zuppas said.

    Nicole Moon, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, confirmed that Masto had spoken to Zuppas.

    "(Zuppas) sent us a proposal for a meth working group and it is one of the things we are looking at," Moon said.

    Masto is chairwoman of the state Working Group on Methamphetamine, formed by Gov. Jim Gibbons. The group is studying the possible state responses to the meth problem.

    "Nevada is still kind of new to the meth issue, and the attorney general will not be submitting her final report on methamphetamine to the governor until Dec. 31," Moon said.

    A 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found Nevada had the highest percentage of respondents reporting they used meth in the last year, at 2 percent.

    Meth use among young adults from 18 to 25 was 3.8 percent.

    The Meth Project delivers uncomfortable and controversial messages that are placed in both traditional media and online. They can be found at www.notevenonce.com.

    The ads have carpeted Montana, scheduled in six week "pulses," Zuppas said. Over the two-year program there were more than 91,000 ad placements in TV, radio, print and billboards, along with promotions of the Internet site.

    On television the graphic commercials run from 7 p.m. to midnight, in an attempt to shield youngsters, Zuppas said.

    Jeff Shay, a professor and chairman of the marketing and management department at the University of Montana, said the gritty nature of the ads is what made them work.

    "When I first saw them it reminded me of when I was in drivers (education) and they showed us the drunk driving videos -- those still stick with me," Shay said.

    Shay said that as a teacher of an entrepreneurship course he found the campaign particularly appealing because it parlayed Seibel's investment into a social good.

    "It is encouraging that a successful entrepreneur could pursue a social problem with the same vigor as he pursues moneymaking opportunities," he said.

    The effort was financed by the private sector at a cost of more than $15 million, including Seibel's contributions.

    The campaign has won numerous advertising awards, and the White House has selected 14 states to get federal money to adopt the Meth Project ads, including California, Utah, Wyoming and Oregon. Nevada was not one of the 14.

    Arizona is running the campaign now with state funding. Idaho has raised private money to initiate the program. Illinois is expected to start running ads early next year.

    Costs vary by state, Zuppas said.

    "What the states do is leverage the campaign, they don't pay for the development (of the ads)," she said. "We pay for the development, the states pay for the individual ad placements."

    On Capitol Hill last month, Montana's lawmakers credited a statewide effort for the decline in meth use.

    Besides the ad campaign, they complimented crackdowns by state and local police, and implementation of the federal law that requires retailers to secure common cold and allergy medications used to create meth.

    Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee that day, Seibel said Montana had dropped from 5th to 39th in the nation in meth use in the last two years.

    Seibel called for the government to get behind the program.

    "I respectfully submit the people of the United States would be well served if the U.S. Congress would consider providing funding to extend the Meth Project to other states," he said.

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    Report abuse

    sandi wrote on October 03, 2007 05:21 AM: Oh yeah punish them harshly put them in prison where there is NO rehabilitation at all!!!!! NOTHING!!!!
    And the good old united states of NV is the very worst state!! Just ask anyone that has someone incarcerated here the real truths about the prisons here!!!


    Report abuse

    j wrote on October 02, 2007 10:25 PM: Anyone who thinks Nevada does not have a meth problem is crazy. I see meth addicts every day...The problem here is much worse than in Utah or Montana. The problem is that social services here are so terrible, there is no system to identify users. And sadly enough, CPS is so overworked, that a meth mom is the least of their problems.


    Report abuse

    Enough wrote on October 02, 2007 10:10 PM: Don't you think they are punishing thier bodies enough by using the drug? Do you think locking them up (at $20,000 per year of your tax dollars) with other like-minded criminals would 'help'? Addiction sucks.... meth is one of the worst to be addicted to.. but we have to try to prevent it, but once its there, you have to deal with it BEFORE it really starts to cost (everyone).


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    Herb wrote on October 02, 2007 03:46 PM: While it's easy to believe that Nevada ranks #1 in meth use, I disagree with those low percentage figures. Most methheads are not going to admit they take the drug to a survey taker.

    I'm in favor of the ad campaign. However, prevention isn't everything. We must punish the current meth users harshly.


    Report abuse

    patriot wrote on October 02, 2007 09:35 AM: So do we here that most the meth comes in from across our southern border1!!If you really care CLOSE THE DAMN BORDERS!!!!!


    Report abuse

    Michelle wrote on October 02, 2007 08:39 AM: "Nevada is still kind of new to the meth issue, and the attorney general will not be submitting her final report on methamphetamine to the governor until Dec. 31," Moon said.

    Ms. Moon and all the rest of them are either extremely naive or trying to sugar coat a long standing problem in this valley. Meth has been here since at least 1985, and really kicked in around 1989-1990. It most definetly is not new to Vegas. I know. I was there. And let me tell you. It was NEVER hard to find some "go fast", ever!

    It is about time people pulled their heads outta the dirt and look around. Especially now, with dealers using pixie stix and other sweet mixes to get kids on it. Meth is the ultimate evil drug. Even now my addiction is not "over" I still crave it.

    That being said, I whole heartedly endorse the Meth Project. I remember a movie I was shown in high school about heroin. It scared the crap out of me, and I found out by reading about it, that it was all true. You don't need to lie to kids, they'll figure it out eventually. And lying may have a worse effect.