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New Mexico Conference Examines Teen Methamphetamine Prevention

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, this week, hundreds of educators, experts, and community members gathered to explore effective drug education at a groundbreaking conference hosted by DPA and several partners, "Building Positive Communities: A Public Health Approach to Teen Methamphetamine Prevention."

The conference examined meth use in New Mexico and what communities are doing to respond, taking on in particular the question of how to best protect and educate young people.

New Mexico communities such as Farmington are already exploring innovative strategies for methamphetamine prevention, and presented their progress at the conference. The conference emphasized reality-based education and community-building rather than oversimplified scare tactics, or a “just say no” approach.

In addition to prevention strategies, the conference explored how schools respond when teens do run into problems with drugs. Many schools resort to punishments such as suspension and expulsion, measures which exclude students from the structured school environment, potentially worsening the problem by leaving students unattended and unaccountable.  Counseling and treatment are more effective responses.

At the conference, Chuck Ries presented the UpFront Program, a student assistance and drug education program in which students take responsibility for their actions while remaining part of the school community. UpFront is currently in use at Oakland High School in California.

Bob Costello, director of training and consulting for the International Institute for Restorative Practices, gave a thought-provoking keynote on the use of restorative practices in schools.  According to Costello, punitive policies are an ineffective deterrent.  When youth feel connected with their school and community, and when they are held responsible for the direct consequences of their actions, schools will face fewer discipline problems. 

Pass A Urine Drug Test - Breakout sessions allowed participants to hear about the experiences of community members in recovery from meth addiction, and several youth panels discussed drug prevention and what had worked for them.  Other topics included social norms marketing, youth and gangs, interactive drug education, and funding sources for youth programs.

“The attendance at the conference was tremendous, and after each session the hallways were buzzing with excitement,” said Reena Szczepanski, director of DPA New Mexico. “The amazing speakers highlighted many different facets of drug education and prevention, and by the end of the two days people had learned some real skills they could take back to their schools and communities.”

Read more of Szczepanski's thoughts in an op-ed published this week in the Albuquerque Journal.

Pass A Urine Drug Test - This week's conference was just the first step for the Drug Policy Alliance Meth Project, a multi-year effort that was funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant to improve methamphetamine prevention for teens in New Mexico.