Recently in Speed Category

released in June 2009 provides an overview of meth, HIV, MSM and care strategies. hrsa_june_2009_methamphetamine_and_hiv.pdf

By following the link you are accessing a PBS (Public Broadcasting System) audio slideshow of Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles.

In this audio slideshow, Dr. Rawson explains how meth affects the brain's dopamine receptors, causing the intense pleasure associated with a meth rush and yet eventually making it impossible for the user to experience pleasure at all.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/methbrainflash.html

2009 Anti-Meth Ad Campaign
View campaign: http://www.methresources.gov/2009antimeth.html

Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has coordinated the National Anti-Meth Campaign since 2007. Using national data as a guide, the campaign has reached out to areas and populations hardest hit by meth, through TV, radio, print, and online advertising, as well as media events.

The 2009 Anti-Meth Campaign, which launches in September 2009, focuses on preventing methamphetamine use - and raising awareness about treatment and recovery. The target audience for this campaign is young adults ages 18 to 34, as well as family and friends of someone who may be using meth. This young adult target was specifically chosen because methamphetamine initiation and usage rates are highest in this age group nationwide.

The 2009 Anti-Meth Campaign's TV, billboard, radio, print, and online ads will run from September to November in 16 states with the highest methamphetamine use rates, as well as a small group of Midwest states with high levels of reported meth lab seizures and incidents, according to national data. The 16 states are: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Nebraska. Additionally, radio ads and online search ads will run in all states during the same time period.

At the conclusion of the campaign in November, many of the ads will be available as free, customizable public service announcements (PSAs) for use by local non-profits, government offices, and other organizations. The TV ads will be available as free customizable PSAs in early 2010.

Meth Situation and Prevalence
Get Treatment Help
Call 206.323.1768

Methamphetamine is a widely abused drug in Washington and one which impacts all levels of the community. Crystal methamphetamine (aka "ice"), which dominates the market as the preferred form of methamphetamine, is readily available throughout the state. Mexican drug trafficking organizations are primarily responsible for the importation and distribution of methamphetamine in Washington, most of which is now produced in Mexico. Clandestine methamphetamine lab activity within the state has decreased over the years. This is likely due in part to state and federal legislation, which has hindered accessibility to chemicals such as pseudoephedrine. (Source: Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.45% of persons aged 12 or older in Washington reported using methamphetamine within the past year. (Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007)

Results of a 2008 survey of Washington students show that approximately 2.8% of 8th graders, 4.7% of 10th graders, and 5.6% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lives. (Washington State Department of Health, State Youth Survey, 2008, 2009)

The Washington State Attorney General's Office provides information regarding the effect of methamphetamine on the state through the Operation: Allied Against Meth section of their Web site. Law enforcement efforts, the effect of methamphetamine on children, education and community outreach, relevant legislation, and additional resources are provided.

A spoken word event:

Your're Write about Meth

@ Kaladi Brothers Coffee

511 Pike Place

for more info or to perform:

206.323.1768 Anthony  or anthonym@seattlecounseling.org

Drug czar kicks off anti-meth ad campaign

04:34 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Josh Palmer's story has played out countless times here in the heart of meth country. Introduced to methamphetamine as a teenager, he soon became addicted, couldn't keep a job, lost his house, lost his family.

Today, he's turned his life around, so much that he's part of a national anti-meth marketing campaign that was launched Tuesday in St. Louis.

"At one time in my life I thought everybody was doing dope because everybody I knew was," Palmer, 32, said after a news conference at St. Louis City Hall. "I found out there was another world out there. And I like it a lot better."

Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske was on hand Tuesday to launch the $9 million ad campaign. Missouri is among the states worst-affected by methamphetamine addiction, and has ranked first in the nation for years in meth lab busts and seizures. Wyoming, Arkansas and Nevada were the top three states as far as per capita usage of meth among people ages 18-25 in a 2007 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The new campaign focuses on a message of hope -- that meth addiction can be overcome.

The ad blitz runs through November and will be run in newspapers, online and on TV, radio, billboards and even gas pumps. It focuses on the 16 states with the worst meth problems -- Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky and Nebraska in the Midwest and Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico in the West. Anti-meth radio and Web ads will run nationally.

"Despite the overall decline in meth usage across the country, we still have work to do," Kerlikowske said. "This drug leaves a path of destruction that affects individuals, families and entire communities."

The ads focus on prevention and provide information to meth users and their families seeking recovery services. They target people ages 18-34, the age group most likely to use the drug.

"Meth is literally stealing the lives of people across the state, specifically young people," Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said.

Kerlikowske's office cited a 2007 survey that found that more than 5 percent of Americans age 12 or older had tried meth at least once, and that an estimated 529,000 Americans had used meth in the past month.

Palmer, of Malden, kicked his habit about five years ago, thanks in large part to a treatment program mandated through the Dunklin County Drug Court. He now works as a drug counselor at a treatment facility.

Palmer said he first used marijuana and drank beer at age 13. He tried meth at 17 and quickly became addicted to the point where he became a maker as well as a user.

While high on the drug, nothing else mattered, he said. Though he lived just down the road from his mother, who was dying of cancer, the only time he saw her during the final three months of her life was when he raced home from a drug deal to be at her death bed.

He lost several jobs because of his drug use, then lost his young children when the state removed them because both Palmer and his wife were on meth. The kids were eventually returned, but only after Palmer hit bottom and sought help.

"I was just exhausted and saw that I lost everything," Palmer said. "I realized there had to be a better way."

Now, he wants others addicted to meth to understand that, too. He is featured in a full-page ad in several metro daily newspapers that ran Tuesday, including both major papers in the Twin Cities and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It reads, in part, "People can -- and do -- recover from meth addiction."

When: Thursday, September 24th, 2009; 6 pm - 8 pm
Where: Kaladi Brothers Coffee
What: A spoken word event for gay/bi men about crystal View image
Who: a collaboration: Project NEON and Gay City Health Project

Hey you!!

Stop clicking that mouse and get to your calendar immediately!! Speed, Sex and Sanity is at it again!! This time we're testing the microphones, dimming the lights and gettin' honest: You're Write about Meth! a dynamic performance event brought to you by gay/bi men for gay/bi men who have or are struggling with meth use. Whether you are in recovery or actively using - this event it the spot for you Thursday, Sept. 24th @ 6 pm.

Here what you do: mark your calendar, sync your blackberry, grab a pencil, write a piece and connect with other gay/bi men who share similar experiences with meth.

The mic is open, the space is safe and the coffee is great - from motivations to use to starting recovery and eveywhere in between.

So you in??? Email your:
name;
art form (i.e., poem, song, spoken word piece); and
contact information
to robert@gaycity.org

And guess what else- we've joined forces with Bent Writing Institute to offer a creative writing workshop to help your creative juices flow- so no excuses - rsvp with robert@gaycity.org

Remember - Thursday, September 24th @ 6 pm...

see you there!!!

Project NEON
206.323.1768

Prosecutors say Douglas' son dealt meth

Cameron Douglas allegedly made tens of thousands of dollars selling drugs

The Associated Press

Thurs., Aug 6, 2009

NEW YORK - Michael Douglas' son traveled coast to coast dealing large quantities of methamphetamine before his arrest last month, according to a criminal complaint made public Thursday.

The complaint in federal court in Manhattan alleges that Cameron Douglas was paid tens of thousands of dollars trafficking the drug -- referred to in transactions by the code words "pastry" or "bath salts" -- since 2006. Cash and drugs were routinely exchanged through shippers like FedEx, the court papers said.

The 30-year-old son of the Oscar-winning actor was arrested July 28 at the trendy Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan. His attorney, Nicholas DeFeis, declined to comment Thursday.

Federal authorities have refused to discuss whether Cameron Douglas remains behind bars or any other aspect of the case.

The complaint drawn up by a Drug Enforcement Administration agent details allegations based on information provided by three unnamed crystal meth users and dealers. The users -- including someone who once worked for Cameron Douglas -- have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

The complaint said that in one deal in 2006, a cooperator shipped cash under a fake name to Douglas at a California hotel. A few days later, it said, Douglas delivered a pound of methamphetamine to the cooperator at a Manhattan hotel.

In 2007, according to another cooperator, Douglas was paid $48,000 at a Manhattan apartment. The cooperator later received a pound of crystal meth through FedEx from Santa Barbara, Calif., the complaint said.

In June and July, negotiations for more drugs were secretly recorded on wiretaps of cell phones and a cooperator's hotel room in Manhattan, the complaint said.

Cameron Douglas, in one recording at the hotel, "acknowledged his prior history selling crystal meth" and "indicated that he continued to sell crystal meth."

In a seperate recorded phone conversation, investigators said he spoke of "sending out a pastry" to a cooperator, and also asked, "Did you get a chance to ... smell any of the salts or anything like that?"

Cameron Douglas has acted in movies including 2003's "It Runs in the Family," starring his father and grandfather Kirk Douglas.

He also was arrested in California in 2007 on cocaine possession charges. His attorney then said the arresting officer didn't do his job properly.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32319165/ns/entertainment-celebrities/

Friday, June 12, 2009

ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Seattle police detain an individual during a raid on an East Pike Street apartment early Thursday morning on Capitol Hill. Neighbors said late-night gambling occurred at the apartment.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009330170_viceraid12m.html