These new grants, and the six grants awarded in 2004 through this program, support treatment in rural areas that have been particularly hard hit by methamphetamine abuse. While the prevalence of methamphetamine use is about the same, the number of persons seeking treatment for methamphetamine abuse has increased dramatically, 10 percent between 2002 and 2003 alone, continuing a trend seen since 1993. Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and Utah had more than 20 percent of their admissions to treatment due to methamphetamine abuse, and Iowa’s rate is just over 19 percent.

In comparison, methamphetamines/amphetamines account for 7.4 percent of substance abuse treatment admissions nationally. Heroin accounts for 14.8 percent of treatment admissions, cocaine accounts for 13.6 percent, and marijuana accounts for 15.5 percent.

"Methamphetamine abuse causes great harm to children, families and communities, but it is a preventable and treatable problem that we are taking steps to address," Secretary Leavitt said. "The President's comprehensive approach, combining prevention, treatment, law enforcement and education is the most effective approach to reducing the public health threat of methamphetamine. These new grants are one part of our overall efforts to help state and local officials identify and address new and emerging trends in substance abuse."

"The ravages of methamphetamine abuse are being seen in communities across the country," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Cure said. "Fortunately, we know more today than ever before about what works in prevention, education, and treatment. We know now that methamphetamine abuse can be successfully treated. Results of SAMHSA-funded studies show 59-69 percent of those who have been treated are free of methamphetamine after six months."

The treatment programs obtaining the grants include:

California

The Kern County Rural Targeted Capacity Expansion Project -- $493,165 for the first year, $494,658 for the second year and $495,977 for the third year to expand and enhance adult outpatient methamphetamine treatment services by implementing Matrix Model treatment plan versions appropriate to younger adult (18-25 years of age) and Spanish-speaking adult clients in two treatment sites: Taft and Wasco. The Matrix Model uses intensive outpatient therapy that integrates treatment elements from a number of strategies, including relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, education, family therapy, and 12-step program involvement. It is anticipated that the majority of clients will be referred by the criminal justice system.

Taft is expected to have 51 percent women, 9 percent Hispanic, 84 percent white, and 2 percent African-American patients, and Wasco will serve 33 percent women, 67 percent Hispanic, 26 percent white, and 2 percent African-American populations. The program aims to increase client retention and successful treatment completion, improve client outcomes, including attitudes towards and rates of substance abuse. The program plans to serve a total of 450 clients over three years, consisting of 110 clients in their first year and 170 in each of the following two years.