RIBAL WASTE
Issue 6 June 2008 | EPA530-N-08-001
METHAMPHETAMINE:
Threatening the Health
and Environment of
Tribal Communities
CHEROKEESSAVNOTIN
OUR NATION" TO METH LABS
TSWAN FIGHTS
MOBILE METH LABS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR METH PREVENTION AND
CLEANUP PROGRAMS
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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INSIDE
issue 6 June 2
6 METHAMPHETAMINE:
THREATENING THE HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENT OF
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
Learn about the hazards
associated with this
dangerous drug.
10TSWAN FIGHTS
MOBILE METH LABS
Nonprofit alliance confronts
a growing trend.
METH LAB
IDENTIFICATION
Find out how to
identify a meth lab
in your community.
12 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR METH PREVENTION
AND CLEANUP PROGRAMS
Find out about programs
to fund meth lab cleanup
and training.
7 CHEROKEES SAY
"NOT IN OUR NATION"
TO METH LABS
Cherokees fight meth
one lab at a time.
15 GENERAL METH
INFORMATION
Visit these websites
for more information.
17 CAUTION YOUR KIDS
Learn how to help your
kids stay meth-free.
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Methamphetamine: Threatening
the Health and Environment of
Tribal Communities
Methamphetamine use is a growing problem in the United States and Indian
Country. Once seen as only a rural issue in Western states, labs used to produce
meth are multiplying throughout the nation and are becoming a major public health
and environmental concern for many communities.
What is
methamphetamine (meth)?
Meth is a stimulant drug
that releases high levels of
dopamine, which can create
an intense high lasting up
to 36 hours. Because of
this intense high, meth is
extremely addictive. Meth
can be ingested several
ways, including orally as a pill,
injection with a syringe, or
through wet or dry injection.
While meth, an illegal drug, is
the most common name for
this drug, it also is known by
several other names, including
crystal meth, glass, and speed.
How is meth made?
Unlike drugs such as marijuana,
cocaine, and heroin, which are
derived from plants, meth can
be manufactured using a variety
of store-bought products such
as cold medications containing
ephedrine or pseudoephed-
rine, drain cleaners contain-
ing sulfuric or muriatic acid,
antifreeze, denatured alcohol,
and lantern fuel. Meth is often
manufactured, or "cooked," in
very crude laboratories. Many of
these labs are simple operations
that do not require sophisticated
equipment. The individuals who
cook meth usually lack formal
training in chemistry. They may
not realize the harm that they
may be causing to themselves
or others, as well as to the envi-
ronment. Cooking meth may
be considered to be relatively
simple, but is very dangerous
and toxic.
jfe
W
.
Close-up photograph of ice
methamphetamine.
Photo provided courtesy of the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
www. usdoj.gov/dea/index. htm
*/T»
3
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Photograph of meth in pill form.
Photograph of meth in powder form
Photograph of ice meth and pipe.
Photos provided courtesy of the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
www. usdoj. go v/dea/in dex. h tm
Methamphetamine is a
problem, infiltrating
and devastating
communities.
Where are meth labs found?
Meth labs can be found in
many everyday settings such
as private residences, trailers,
campgrounds, hotel rooms,
and vehicles.
What risks do meth labs
pose to human health and
the environment?
The production of meth
requires numerous ingredients
that can pose a significant
hazard to human health and
the environment during the
cooking process, when labs
are abandoned, or when meth
cookers improperly dispose of
the lab wastes. For example:
Exposure to the chemicals
used to cook meth or
the waste from cooking
meth can lead to chemical
burns, shortness of breath,
damage to the central
nervous system, headaches,
vomiting, confusion, and, in
some cases, death.
Cooking meth poses a
high danger of explosion
because volatile, unstable
compounds are mixed,
usually without the proper
safety equipment.
Waste from meth labs that
is improperly disposed of
can contaminate ground-
water and wells; kill plants;
and harm aquatic life and
animals.
How is meth affecting Indian
Country? Why is meth a
particular challenge in Indian
Country?
Meth is having a significant
impact in Indian Country.
According to the National
Congress of American Indians,
Native Americans experience
some of the highest rates of
use and abuse of meth in the
country. In some rural com-
munities, up to 30 percent
of tribal members have been
reported as abusing meth.
Tribal police have recognized
the seriousness of this
problem, and many report
that meth is the greatest drug
threat to their communities.
They also report that up to
40 percent of violent crime in
Indian Country involves meth.
For more information on
meth in Indian Country, visit
www.ncai.org/ncai/Meth/
Meth_in_lndian_Country_
and_Creative_Tribal_Solutions_
July.pdf.
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5r
Mef/7 Lab Identification
Because of the potential hazards posed to human health and the environment by
meth labs, it is important that everyone is able to identify the signs that a home,
vehicle, or other facility is or has been used as a meth lab. The following is a list of
what to look for and how to identify a meth lab in your community:
Location
Meth labs can be found in
every type of location and
property (including rural and
urban areas and in tenant
or owner-occupied proper-
ties, such as apartment
complexes, single-family
homes, hotels, vehicles,
mobile storage units,
and trailers).
Residences housing meth
labs often have windows
covered with curtains or
aluminum foil. Structures
such as garages or sheds
may also be used.
The property might have
frequent visitors, especially
at unusual times of the day.
Many meth labs also
include extensive security
measures or attempts to
ensure privacy, such as "No
Trespassing" or "Beware of
Dog" signs, fences, or large
trees or shrubs.
The residents may be
secretive or unfriendly.
Mobile meth labs may
involve stealing cars, moving
them to obscure locations to
cook meth for a few hours,
and then abandoning them.
Common Ingredients
and Supplies
The chemicals used to cook
meth vary, but typically
include ephedrine or pseu-
doephedrine (the ingredient
found in some cold and
allergy medications). Watch
for excessive numbers
of empty cold or allergy
medicine containers.
Other commonly used
chemicals in meth produc-
tion include drain cleaners
(containing sulfuric or
muriatic acid), antifreeze,
denatured alcohol, and
lantern fuel.
Photograph of an active meth lab
discovered in a home.
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Photograph of an active meth lab
discovered in a hotel room.
Photograph of a meth lab
discovered in a rural location.
Methamphetamine has
devastating impacts
on human health and
the environment.
Watch for the supplies that
meth cookers require and
may bring into the lab, such
as heat sources (hot plates,
Bunsen burners, or propane
cylinders); glass cookware;
frying pans; coffee filters;
and plastic tubing. When the
cookware and frying pans
are disposed of, they may
contain a powdery residue,
while the coffee filters may
have red stains.
Other supplies often used and
found in meth labs include
lithium batteries (usually
stripped), soft silver or gray
metallic ribbon (in chunk form)
stored in oil or kerosene, and
propane tanks with fittings
that have turned blue.
All of the items listed above
are easily obtainable at most
local grocery, pharmacy, and/or
hardware stores. Employees
of these establishments
should watch for individuals
buying these materials in any
quantities over what would be
typical fora household.
Unusual Sights and Odors
If meth is being cooked in
a home or other type of
building, the walls may be
stained brown or otherwise
discolored.
Production of meth will
often result in strong,
offensive odors, such as the
smell of ether, ammonia,
or acetone. Quite often the
odor will smell similar to cat
urine or fingernail polish.
Excessive Waste
Look for large quantities of
waste or garbage, including
empty medicine containers,
coffee filters, duct tape rolls,
lantern fuel, paint thinner,
acetone, starter fluid, lye,
and drain cleaners.
If you discover a home or
other facility featuring one or
more of these characteristics,
it does not necessarily mean
that the location is being used
to cook meth. However, if
the activities you observe at
a particular location lead you
to suspect that someone is
running a meth lab, do not
attempt to enter the building
or vehicle or touch any debris.
Instead, contact local law
enforcement immediately to
let them know what you have
found so they can determine
the best steps to deal with
the situation.
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Cherokees Say
"Not in Our Nation " to Meth Labs
Several years ago, the Cherokee Nation formulated the policy of "Not in Our Nation" to
characterize their efforts against the illicit production and use of methamphetamine (meth)
within their communities. These efforts combine a training program and community-oriented
activities. The purpose of the community-oriented activities is to empower communities
with the necessary resources to properly address the devastation that this menace creates.
Meth, unlike other illegal drugs, is unique because it creates a toxic legacy of contaminated
properties. To address this concern, the Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs (CNEP)
division developed a clandestine drug laboratory assessment initiative.
History
In late 2002, CNEP received
a request from the Cherokee
Nation Housing Authority
(CNHA) to investigate a
potential meth lab in a home
owned and managed by the
Authority. Before undertak-
ing the investigation, CNEP
officials received training
on methods used to assess
clandestine drug labs from
the Oregon Department of
Human Services. Following
the training in 2003, staff from
CNEP, led by Environmental
Specialist Wayne Isaacs,
assessed the home first cited
by CNHA. Mr. Isaacs and his
staff had previous experience
identifying and assessing
hazardous materials, having
worked in the Cherokee Nation
Superfund and Brownfields
programs.
The following year, the
U.S. Department of Justice
provided funding to CNEP to
purchase equipment for inves-
tigating meth labs and to hold
a regional meth conference in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, partnering
with the Oklahoma Bureau
of Narcotics. In addition,
CNEP began a community
education initiative to help
tribal members understand
meth, its harmful effects, and
the dangers posed to human
health and the environment by
meth labs.
The current flag of the Cherokee Nation.
*/Y»
7
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Explosion and fire damage
caused by the volatile chemicals
used in a meth lab.
The initiative came about
largely because of support
from the Cherokee Nation's
governing officials. Tribal
officials helped form a multi-
agency task force to combat
the meth problem. The task
force met frequently to
create a plan to address the
issue. In 2005, officials also
helped form the Cherokee
Nation Anti-Meth Coalition,
composed of representatives
from behavioral health, tribal
law enforcement, housing
authority, environmental
programs, administration, child
welfare, social services, and
public relations. The Coalition
does much of its work in local
communities by educating the
public about meth and empow-
ering residents to support and
implement meth prevention
and awareness programs.
In addition to its role in the
Anti-Meth Coalition, CNEP
has conducted numerous site
assessments at former and
abandoned meth labs. The
assessments are supported
with funds from the U.S.
Department of Housing
and Urban Development,
authorized under the Native
American Housing and Self-
Determination Act.
CNEP Site Assessments
The main focus of CNEP's
site assessments is to ensure
that no residual meth produc-
tion chemicals remain at the
site, including the house and
its surrounding environment.
Before CNEP performs the
site assessment, the tribal
law enforcement depart-
ment identifies and decides
whether a meth lab has been
present. This typically results
in the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency providing access to a
hazardous waste contractor
who removes the waste.
Once the waste is removed,
CNEP performs its site assess-
ment by taking the following
steps: (1) Performing a prelimi-
nary site investigation; (2) Taking
samples and sending them to
a lab for analysis; (3) Receiving
the sample results to see which
contaminants are still present
and where they are located;
(4) Reporting all findings
along with decontamination
procedures to CNHA; and
(5) Performing a clearance test
after the site has been cleaned
to ensure no contamination
remains and the house can
once again be safely inhabited.
CNEP's Training Program
In 2006, with the knowledge
gained from completing
numerous site assessments
over the past several years,
and with support from the
U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA), CNEP
developed and organized a
training course, "Meth Lab
Hazard Assessment," to
assist other tribes with con-
ducting site investigations.
Until recently, due to funding
limitations, CNEP was only
able to teach this course in EPA
Region 6-Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Texas. However, through a
recently awarded EPA Brown-
fields grant, CNEP will be able
to provide the training across
the country. CNEP hopes to
conduct the training in the
spring of 2008 and is currently
conducting research to ensure
that information presented
in the training is up to date.
CNEP also intends to allocate
more staff to assist with the
increased training needs.
When conducted across the
nation, the course will likely
follow a "train-the-trainer"
approach. It will include case
studies and other "hands-on"
activities to educate tribes on
how to assess potential meth
labs. CNEP is working with
the Inter-Tribal Environmental
Council (ITEC) to dissemi-
nate information about the
training. ITEC is composed of
40 member tribes, with the
Cherokee Nation serving in a
leadership capacity. The ITEC
website (www.itecmembers
.org) will feature updates
on the status of the training
program and when training will
be available throughout the
United States.
Meth in Indian Country
The Cherokee Nation has been
able to successfully decrease
drug use, primarily by working
with elders and children. Much
of this work has been accom-
plished by visiting community
members and schools to
educate young people about
the dangers of meth use and
production.
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According to Mr. Isaacs,
CNEP's environmental spe-
cialist, production of meth in
small "mom and pop" labs has
declined significantly in recent
years. Much of this decline
is due to the new federal
and state laws that regulate
the purchase of some of the
main ingredients necessary
to produce meth. Oklahoma,
home to the Cherokee
Nation, was the first state
to implement such laws and
had them in place prior to any
federal regulation.
While there is a significant
decline in new meth labs
due to the new regulation,
meth production is moving to
fewer, larger labs, and many
smaller, rural labs are being
abandoned. These abandoned
sites have become a signifi-
cant risk to human health and
the environment.
For instance, according to
statements by Mr. Isaacs,
between 1999 and 2004
alone, there were 4,219 meth
lab incidents reported in
Oklahoma. However, many
people suspect that this
number is lower than the
actual number due to under-
reporting. Local law enforce-
ment agencies believe there
are as many as 10 unreported
illegal sites for every one
that is reported. In addition,
authorities have stated that
not only is identifying the
number of labs difficult, but
determining whether they are
located on tribal lands, and
hence under tribal jurisdiction,
is also an issue.
Nevertheless, according
to the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation,
meth lab seizures have risen
577 percent nationally since
1995.1 Oklahoma meth cases
have increased more than
8,000 percent since 1994,2
according to the Bureau.
Challenges
CNEP has overcome
numerous obstacles in its
efforts to cleanup abandoned
meth labs and prevent the use
of meth by members of the
Cherokee Nation. The tribe,
however, still faces many chal-
lenges related to the miscon-
ceptions surrounding meth
and former meth lab sites.
For example, many people
believe that houses that once
served as meth labs must be
demolished instead of being
cleaned and re-inhabited. This
is true in only a few cases. In
many cases, contractors can
decontaminate a home so that
it no longer poses a threat to
human health and the envi-
ronment. Educating people
about this issue is challeng-
ing. Part of CNEP's mission
is to ensure that people not
only understand the dangers
posed by abandoned meth
labs, but that they also realize
that once cleaned, a house
no longer poses a threat to its
inhabitants or the surrounding
environment.
Mr. Isaacs says another
misconception is that meth
labs produce a large amount
of hazardous waste. In fact,
most meth labs only produce
I
A Cherokee employee performing
a site assessment of a meth lab.
Photo provided courtesy of the
Cherokee Nation, www.cherokee.org
moderate amounts of
hazardous waste. The threat
occurs when people dump
this waste in their backyards
or nearby streams, potentially
spreading contamination into
the surrounding environment
and local drinking water sources.
The Cherokee Nation is
working effectively against
meth production and use and
has made significant progress
toward supporting efforts to
eliminate meth from its lands
by saying, "Not in Our Nation."
If your tribe would like more
information on this issue or
on CNEP's upcoming training,
visit www.itecmembers.org
or contact:
Wayne Isaacs
Cherokee Nation
Environmental Programs
(918) 453-5359 office
(918) 453-2904 fax
wisaacs@cherokee.org
1 "Cherokee Nation Methamphetamine Lab Assessment," National Forum on Tribal Environ-
mental Science, Sept. 24-29, 2007, Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, Ocean Shores, WA.
2 Ibid.
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TSWAN
TSWAN Fights
Mobile Meth Labs
A trend is emerging in Indian Country. Mobile meth labsprimarily cars
and trucks, often stolenare being found on reservations. Meth producers
are drawn to the area by the rural setting and the knowledge that they are
entering a tribal jurisdiction.
Vast acres of land in the Pacific
Northwest make it attractive to
meth producers.
In the Pacific Northwest and
Alaska, tribes and native
villages are responding to the
problem of mobile meth labs
with the help of the Tribal
Solid Waste Advisory Network
(TSWAN), a nonprofit alliance.
TSWAN, which focuses on
effective and environmen-
tally responsible solid waste
management on tribal lands,
has added mobile meth lab
cleanups to its list of priorities.
TSWAN focuses on training
solid waste and public works
personnel on hazard identifica-
tion, as these types of workers
are often the ones to discover
the meth labs.
A New Kind of Trespassing
Mobile meth labs are created
when people, typically non-
tribal members, drive onto
tribal land, park their cars in
the woods or on the shoulders
of roads, cook meth for a few
hours in the vehicles, and then
abandon the cars or dump
their cooking supplies in the
woods or on the roadside. In
many cases, the meth cookers
have stolen the vehicles,
which is why they are willing
to abandon them.
According to Kami Snowden,
TSWAN's executive director,
a related problem has arisen
in Alaska, primarily in native
villages located in areas not
connected to the main Alaskan
road system. These remote
areas are more readily acces-
sible by plane. As a result,
meth cookers fly into a native
village and cook meth for a
few hours. Once done, the
cookers abandon the site and
simply fly back out.
Ms. Snowden states that
many tribes and law enforce-
ment agencies focus on
preventing meth use. The idea
10
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of targeting abandoned meth
lab sites and training officials
on how to identify these sites
is relatively new and just
now receiving attention. In
particular, public works and
solid waste staff often lack
training on how to identify
mobile meth labs.
For example, during a recent
visit to a reservation near
Seattle, Washington, Ms.
Snowden was traveling with
a resident on a road where
workers had recently cleaned
up some debris. Ms. Snowden
learned that the workers had
picked up bottles filled with
what appeared to be urine
along with other debris on
the side of the road, and that
the workers were sniffing the
contents to identify them.
According to Ms. Snowden,
this was probably not trash
but leftover items from a
mobile meth lab; at the time
the workers did not know this
and risked being injured by the
dangerous chemicals.
The methods used to make
meth have changed over time,
as ingredients have become
regulated and harder to obtain.
For example, as the sale of
ephedrine and pseudoephed-
rine has become strictly
regulated, many meth cookers
have switched to using
red lye, which is extremely
hazardous to human health
and the environment and
can be found readily at any
neighborhood hardware store.
This has increased the risk to
workers when identifying or
assessing these sites.
Initial Response
When a mobile meth lab is
discovered in Indian Country,
tribal law enforcement is
often notified. They in turn
may call in federal officials to
assist, because an incident
taking place on tribal lands
could potentially involve both
tribal and federal authorities.
According to Ms. Snowden,
this is an effective response,
but it can raise questions about
who is ultimately responsible
for the cleanup of the site.
Tribal officials have gone to
varying lengths to develop
plans to prevent mobile meth
labs from appearing on tribal
lands and thereby avoiding
the need for site cleanup all
together. Physically stopping
traffickers from coming onto
reservations can prove to be
difficult because most reser-
vations have many roads and
points of entry. In addition,
some reservations encompass
vast areas of land but have
few tribal law enforcement
officers to monitor the area.
Also, traffickers may know they
cannot be followed onto tribal
lands by local and/or state law
enforcement officers, because
they typically have no authority
on reservations. Consequently,
tribal lands have become
increasingly attractive to meth
producers.
TSWAN's Training Program
To help educate solid waste
and public works staff with
hazard identification and
response, TSWAN is develop-
ing a 3-day training session
with help from the University
of Washington (through a
hazardous waste grant from
EPA) and the Washington
State Patrol's Drug Task Force
Unit. The first training session
is planned for June 2008.
The training session will focus
not only on hazard identification
but also on teaching attendees
how to respond after finding
a meth lab, whom to call, the
costs of cleanup, and other
related topics. In addition,
the training will cover which
warning signs to look for when
trying to identify a meth lab.
Through the collaborative
efforts of TSWAN and the
Drug Task Force Unit, the
training will also feature two
hands-on training exercises
using mock meth lab scenes.
One will be an open dumping
site for attendees to walk
through. The other will be a
vehicle assembled as a mobile
meth lab. Attendees will
be able to see and test the
classroom instruction.
Each training session will
be limited to approximately
35 people, with tribes who
belong to TSWAN given
preference. Ms. Snowden
anticipates that the training
will be very educational and
popular, but that one session
will not be enough. TSWAN
hopes to conduct 3-4 training
sessions in the upcoming
12-18 months.
For more information about
TSWAN's training, contact:
Kami Snowden
TSWAN Executive Director
P.O. Box 505
Cheney, WA 99004
(509) 235-6007
www.tswan.org
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ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING
ortunmes
Funding Opportunities for Meth
Prevention and Cleanup Programs
The following list describes funding opportunities provided by various
government agencies and other organizations to help tribes.
Funding is available to help
with land revitalization.
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
Local Governments Reim-
bursement Program: This
program provides federal
funds to local governments
for costs related to temporary
emergency measures
conducted in response
to releases or threatened
releases of hazardous
substances.
www.epa.gov/superfund/
programs/er/lgr/
Hazardous Waste Manage-
ment Grant Program for
Tribes: This program provides
capacity-building grants to
federally recognized tribes
and tribal organizations. Its
goal is to encourage compre-
hensive integrated hazardous
waste management practices
that are protective of human
health and the environment.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/
non-hw/triba I/finance, htm
EPA's Brownfields Program
provides direct funding for
brownfields assessment,
cleanup, revolving loans, and
environmental job training.
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
pilot.htm
Brownfields Assessment
Pilots/Grants
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
assessment_grants.htm
Brownfields Assessment,
Cleanup, and Revolving Loan
Fund Pilots/Grantees
www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/
plocat.htm
Brownfields Cleanup Grants
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
cleanup_grants.htm
Brownfields Job Training
Pilots/Grants
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
job.htm
12
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Brownfields Training,
Research, and Technical
Assistance Grants
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
trta.htm
Brownfields Training,
Research, and Technical
Assistance Grant Fact
Sheet: This site describes
the Cherokee Nation
Environmental Program's
Brownfields Methamphet-
amine Training.
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
html-doc/k6-07-cnep.htm
State and Tribal Response
Programs: This site provides
background information,
state and tribal grant funding
guidance, memoranda
of understanding, state
brownfields websites, and
state Voluntary Cleanup
Programs websites.
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
state tribal.htm
Other Funding and Financing
for Brownfields
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
mmatters.htm
U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ), Office of
Justice Programs' Bureau
of Justice Assistance
These funding opportunities
assist tribal jurisdictions
in improving their criminal
justice systems and reducing
substance abuse. Applicants
are limited to federally
recognized tribes, including
Alaska Native Villages and
corporations, and authorized
intertribal consortia.
General information from the
Bureau of Justice Assistance
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
Tribal Courts Assistance
Program (TCAP) Fiscal Year
(FY) 2008 Competitive Grant
Announcement
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
grant/OSTCAPsol.pdf
Indian Alcohol and
Substance Abuse Program
FY 2008 Competitive Grant
Announcement
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
grant/OSIASAPsol.pdf
Indian Alcohol and
Substance Abuse Program
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
grant/OSIASAPsol.pdf
DOJ Office of
Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS)
The COPS Office helps
law enforcement agencies
implement and enhance
community enforcement.
Methamphetamine Initia-
tives: This site provides links
to fact sheets, grant owners'
manuals, environmental
assessments, and tools for
combating meth.
www.cops.usdoj.gov/
default.asp?ltem=57
COPS Applications for
Funding: This site lists
current funding opportuni-
ties and due dates.
www.cops.usdoj.gov/
default.asp?ltem=240
.
Funding is available for job training
to properly recognize and deal with
meth labs.
COPS Tribal Resources
Grant Program: This grant
program has offered a wide
variety of funding in areas
such as hiring additional
officers, law enforcement
training, uniforms, basic-
issue equipment, emerging
technologies, and police
vehicles.
www.cops.usdoj.gov/
default. asp?ltem=1428
U.S. Department of
Education (DOE)
Grants for School-Based
Student Drug-Testing
Programs for FY 2008:
This site features current
solicitations for DOE grants
for local education agencies
and public and private
entities to develop and
implement or expand school-
based mandatory, random,
or voluntary drug-testing
programs for students.
www.randomstudent
drugtesting.org/current_
solicitations.html
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Funding is available for substance
abuse and mental health services.
Meth Resources
Latest Funding: This site
provides links to meth
prevention, education,
and treatment funding
opportunities for business/
retail/farmers/landlords,
enforcement and public safety
officials, parents and youth,
policymakers, and legislators.
www.methresources.gov/
InformationTypeResource.
aspx?lnfold=5
National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA grants support its
mission to lead the nation
in bringing the power of
science to bear on drug abuse,
addiction, and associated
infections such as HIV, HCV,
TB, and others.
Securing Funding for NIDA
Grants and Contracts:
www.drugabuse.gov/
funding/default.html
Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP),
Drug Free Communities
Support Program
The Drug Free Communities
Potential Grantees: This site
provides grantee information,
requests for applications,
and application support for
the Drug Free Communities
Support Program.
www.ondcp.gov/dfc/
potentialgrantees.html
Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)
Request for Applications:
Cooperative Agreements for
Screening, Brief Intervention,
Referral, and Treatment
(SBIRT): The purpose of this
program is to expand and
enhance state and tribal
substance-abuse treatment
service systems.
www.samhsa.gov/grants/
2008/ti_08_001.aspx
Requests for Funding
Applications:
www.drugabuse.gov/
funding/rfa.html
Northwest Portland Area
Indian Health Board: Indian
Leadership for Indian Health
Funding and Resources: This
site provides links to COPS
funding and resources for key
Indian health issues, including
combating the effects of meth.
www.npaihb.org/health_
issues/page/meth_funding_
and_resources
Tribal Justice Programs
National Funding Opportuni-
ties: This site provides links to
funding opportunities for tribal
courts, drug abuse prevention,
and many other issues.
www.tribaljusticeprograms.
org/funding/opps.asp
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LEA
more
General Meth Information
If you are interested in learning more about the tools and programs currently
available to help combat meth and meth-related problems, please visit some
of the following websites.
Anti-Meth Training
This website describes a
new anti-meth "online" and
"in-person" training course
designed specifically to help
combat the meth problem in
Indian Country. The course,
offered by Lamar Associates
under a grant from the U.S.
Department of Justice,
features information on the
meth issues in Indian Country;
ways to identify meth use
and production; discussion
about jurisdictional issues
in Indian Country; and ideas
for developing community
coalitions and undertaking
strategic planning.
www.lamarassociates.net/
antimethtraining.html
MethResources.gov
The federal government
created this website to provide
information on a range of
meth-related topics, including
health and environmental
impacts, treatment, training
and technical assistance, and
policies and regulations. The
site also includes a discussion
board and links to upcoming
conferences and events.
www.methresources.gov
National Congress of
American Indians (NCAI)
Tribal Meth Toolkit
This site provides access
to a toolkit of meth-related
materials, including:
Basic information about
meth use in Indian Country;
Examples of tribal codes and
policies to outlaw meth;
Television and radio public
service announcements and
newsletter article templates
to increase awareness about
the hazards posed by meth;
Many resources are available
to help with youth education
and drug prevention.
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Learn about the environmental
impacts caused by meth production.
Tribes aCrOSS the
nation are reporting
that meth has become
a problem.
Educational materials and
presentations, including
posters and bookmarks; and
Links to other resources
for dealing with the meth
problem.
www.ncai.org/Tribal_Meth_
Toolkit.266.0.html
NCAI Meth in Indian
Country Initiative
This site includes links to other
resources provided by NCAI,
such as the Tribal Meth Toolkit
and information about current
meth-related legislation and
conferences.
www.ncai.org/Meth_in_lndian_
Country_lnitiat.192.0.html
National Tribal Justice
Resource Center
Methamphetamine Tools
and Resources
This site features basic infor-
mation about meth as well as
links to numerous news articles
and publications about meth
and organizations working
to prevent the use of meth
throughout the United States,
including Indian Country.
www.ntjrc.org/legal/
details.asp?83
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services,
Indian Health Service
Methamphetamine Initiative
This site, originally created in
2006, features links to infor-
mation on meth prevention
activities, such as training and
workgroups.
www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/
Behavioral/index.cfm?module=
BH&option=Meth
U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Indian
Affairs/Indian Community
Initiatives
This site details some of the
efforts currently underway in
Indian Country by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, such as develop-
ing a meth awareness training
program and forming a joint
working group on meth abuse.
www.doi.gov/news/07_
News_Releases/070205a_
INF02.html
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Caution Your Kids!
According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, there has been
a recent decline in the number of youths using drugs, despite the fact that total
drug use remains at a relatively high level. As a result, illegal drug manufacturers
are taking new steps to entice more young people, including children, to become
addicted to drugs like meth.
To make the drugs more
appealing to children, meth-
amphetamine producers have
recently started adding new
cutting agents to dilute their
product. Cutting agents are
chemicals used to add bulk
to meth as well as giving
the drug a more tempting
appearance. One such
agent is Nestle's Strawberry
NESQUIK, which makes
the meth appear pink, instead
of the usual brown or white
color. "Strawberry Quick," as
this colored meth is commonly
called, also has been reported
to have a strawberry odor
and flavor.
Another type of meth that
is popping up at parties and
being used to entice young
people is called "yaba." Yaba
means "crazy medicine" in
Thai. Yaba originated and is
produced in Southeast and
East Asia and combines
caffeine with methamphet-
amine. Yaba is presented in
pill form and is usually orange,
pink, or green, and has been
reported to taste like candy.
Drug dealers have intention-
ally made these drugs look
like candy to entice new users
and create a new generation
of meth addicts. Tribal leaders,
parents, teachers, and others
in the community should
caution kids about accepting
or ingesting these or any other
types of drugs. Let children
know that if they are unsure
of what the substance is or
where it came from, they
should not use it or accept it.
Encourage children to become involved
in their community.
Yaba
Strawberry Quick
17
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Many activities, like those offered
at the Escondido Public Library,
celebrate their communities' cultures
and heritage.
Above photographs provided courtesy of
Escondido Public Library, Escondido, CA.
Youths who participate
in activities are less likely
to use drugs like meth,
than those who do not.
Did You Know?
Statistically, youths who
participate in activities are less
likely to use drugs like meth
than those who do not. There
are several things that you can
do within your community to
keep kids active so that they
do not turn to drugs. Consider
things like:
Having movie and
game nights;
Forming sports teams
or leagues;
Starting a drama class
or a children's choir;
Offering computer
training; and
Organizing volunteer
programs.
You can also foster tribal
culture among youth through
activities such as:
Native games;
Tribal language or
history courses;
Native crafts;
Cooking
demonstrations; and
Encourage kids to bring their
friends and family. Get the
entire community involved!
For more information about
native cultural programs for
youth, please visit:
www.learningpt.org/
afterschool/hqactivities/
program.php?id=4
or
http://seattletimes.
nwsource.com/html/
education/2002014369_
skyvalley25n.html
For ideas on how to talk to
kids about staying off drugs,
visit these helpful websites:
www.theantidrug.com/pdfs/
version3General.pdf
or
www.dare.com/parents/
Parents_Tips/Story2d13.
asp?N=Parents_
Tips&M=25&S=91
Storytelling.
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To be placed on our mailing list
or to submit ideas and success
stories, please e-mail:
Kim Katonica-Mule
U.S. EPA Tribal Solid Waste Program
katonica.kim@epamail.epa.gov
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&ER&
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5306W)
EPA530-N-08-001
www.epa.gov/tribalmsw
June 2008
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