Governors' Drug Policy Resolutions
Drug Policy Summit Recommendations 2001

Drug Policy in The West 2000

Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Transportation, Use and Sale 2000

Reports
Drug Strategies in the West (May 2000) - PDF

Drug Strategies in the West (May 2000) - HTML

Working Documents

Press Releases
 States Craft Drug Policy Measures (12-14-00)

States’ Drug Policy Academy Tackles Demand Side of War on Drugs (10-5-00)

Six Western States, American Samoa Selected for WGA Drug Policy Academy (9-28-00)

Western Governors to Develop, Implement Strategies
Aimed at Reducing Demand for Drugs (6-13-00)

Other
The American Bar Assoc., Section of Environment, Energy & Resources, has recommended that
the ABA House of Delegates approve IWR resolution

Contact
Shaun McGrath

Drug Policy

ARCHIVE -- This page no longer being updated. (1/1/03)

Drug Policy Summit
Western governors, drug policy experts and Administration officials met in Boise, Idaho June 5-6 for a Drug Policy Summit to raise awareness of the region's drug and alcohol abuse problems and discuss effective solutions.   Information from the meeting is available here.

About this Initiative
The WGA Drug Policy Working Group was formed in December 1999 to provide governors with a ‘snapshot’ of drug use and drug programs in the West. Thirteen states are currently participating on the Working Group.

The Working Group produced a White Paper for the governors in May 2000.  The White Paper included the following characterizations:

  • All states report that their drug-related spending has increased substantially in recent years and continues to increase.
  • Yet, illicit drug use has remained relatively stable since 1992.
  •  More than half of state anti-drug budgets are spent on criminal justice and incarceration costs both for adults and juveniles with serious drug problems.
  •  A number of promising treatment and prevention programs are emerging in Western states. Still, alcohol and other drug abuse treatment is available for only a small fraction of those who need it.
  •  Methamphetamine accounts for most of the growth in arrests, caseloads, and incarceration, and is the fastest growing part of the drug abuse problem. Clandestine meth labs pose many problems, including safety issues and environmental concerns.

Some key conclusions made by the working group include the following: 

  • Citizens must be held accountable for their actions. However, alternatives to incarceration and the increased availability of treatment are important.
  •  The federal government and the states need comprehensive drug and alcohol abuse strategies, including prevention, intervention, education, treatment, aftercare and enforcement.
  •  The far-reaching destructive impact of methamphetamine manufacturing cannot be ignored. It is imperative that adequate funding for the cleanup of methamphetamine labs be maintained.
  •  Innovative programs should be explored, replicated where appropriate, and scientifically studied to verify their effectiveness. WGA governors should seek to initiate a critical analysis of current practices and public policies to implement effective strategies to deal with drug use and its effects upon our states. WGA should convene a Western Drug Policy Summit to heighten public awareness of the region's substance abuse problems and further promote effective solutions.

WGA has been awarded a grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to fund a new drug policy program at WGA. The purpose of the program is to bring Western states together to develop and mount comprehensive strategies to reduce drug use and attendant crime, family disruption and other social costs. Through the grant, WGA will jointly explore with participating Western states and other experts the current research and past experiences leading to the development and implementation of model state programs focusing on treatment, prevention and rehabilitation.

The governors passed two resolutions on drug policy offered by Governor Kempthorne. The resolutions are largely based on the recommendations of the Drug Policy Working Group. The first resolution focuses on the importance of cleaning up clandestine meth labs. The second directs WGA to seek funding for a drug program to assist states develop innovative drug strategies, and to convene a drug policy summit to heighten awareness of the region’s substance abuse problems and further promote effective solutions.
 
January 09, 2003