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Western States, American Samoa Selected
for WGA Drug Policy Academy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2000
Contact: Karen Deike or Shaun McGrath 303-623-9378
| BOISE -- Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Chairman of
the Western Governors’ Association, announced today that six Western states and
American Samoa have been selected to participate in the WGA Drug Policy Academy,
"Effective Drug Policies: Reducing the Demand." The six states are: Arizona,
Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The academy will bring in experts to assist teams of decision-makers from the selected states to:
The outcome-oriented policies developed through the academy should result in on-the-ground programs that effectively reduce the demand for illicit drugs and the social costs of their use. "Strong enforcement of our laws is essential, and citizens must be held accountable for their actions," Kempthorne said. "But if we’re going to break the cycle of addiction and crime, we also have to focus our efforts on rehabilitating those who are addicted. "WGA’s Drug Policy Academy will give western states a tremendous opportunity to build innovative, effective programs to reduce both the demand for illicit drugs and alcohol and the future costs to both government and society as a whole," Kempthorne said. The academy will begin October 5-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and a second academy will be held in Tempe, Arizona on December 14-15. It will culminate in a Drug Policy Summit scheduled for early June 2001 in Boise, Idaho. Drug Strategies, a Washington-based, non-profit research institute, is assisting with the academy and praised the governors’ efforts. "Our experience finds that the most innovative approaches to the drug problem are taking place at the state and local level," said Mathea Falco, President of Drug Strategies. "The WGA's focus on demand reduction is a major step in the right direction and can be used as a model by all states." The academy is being financed by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, as well as other WGA partners. The Western Governors’ Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Through their association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management. # # # # # #
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