Meth Watch

Public awareness is a key strategy in the fight against meth production and use. Law enforcement agencies across the country recognize the direct link between education of citizens and the capture of meth manufacturers.

Successful prevention programs start early, are comprehensive, and repeatedly stress key points. Effective prevention begins with an assessment of the specific nature of the meth problem within your local community and then adapting the program accordingly.

General prevention principles are outlined in the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s research based booklet entitled, Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents.

All public awareness initiatives should always be tailored to the target audience. For example, specific presentations have been created for home visitors such as child protective workers, utility workers, and cable operators as well as presentations customized for the community’s first responders.

Some public awareness efforts implemented in Kansas and other states include:

Mock meth labs created and utilized for presentation
Educational information distributed at schools
Facts about meth shown at movie theaters
Meth Watch signs posted at city limits
Neighborhood watch meeting to educate the community about meth
Production of public service announcements
Display boards for community events