10,000 Signatures to Be Submitted to Board of Supervisors in Battle to Fight Methamphetamine Abuse

Members of the Act Now Against Meth Coalition, a coalition of Los Angeles community-based organizations and individuals, will go before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and demand that the County take action in the fight against methamphetamines. Backed by a petition with 10,000 signatures, the Coalition will demand that the Board declare a public health emergency, including four other action items.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 16, 2006 -- Members of the Act Now Against Meth Coalition will go before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and demand that the County take action in the fight against methamphetamines. Backed by a petition with 10,000 signatures, the Coalition will demand that the Board declare a public health emergency, including four other action items.

Methamphetamine using is growing and the drug is driving HIV infections, creating other health problems, and destroying families.

A study of 19,000 conducted by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in 2005 found that nearly one in three homosexual men who tested positive for HIV last year reported using crystal, a percentage that has tripled since 2001.

Data from the CA Dept. of Alcohol and Drug Programs shows treatment admissions for methamphetamine have been rising since 2000 and began exceeding marijuana, heroin, crack and alcohol in 2005.

Some researchers have used a military metaphor to describe the drug: If cocaine can be thought of as a conventional weapon, crystal meth is like a nuclear weapon.

“Crystal meth is a community issue, and it requires a community response,” said Eddie Martinez, associate director of The Wall-Las Memorias Project and a member of the Act Now Against Meth Coalition. “But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re taking our demands to the Board of Supervisors. We must work together. And we must act quickly.”
                        
WHEN      
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE    
Board of Supervisors, Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple Street
On the front steps outside the Supervisors meeting room.   
      
ETC.   
The Act Now Against Meth Coalition grew out of a growing concern among AIDS service providers, community leaders and concerned individuals about the increasing use of crystal meth.

Coalition members include Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, Being Alive, BiLatinMen.com, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Choices, El Centro del Pueblo, El Proyecto del Barrio, Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council, Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles, Midtowne Spa, the about time group, The Wall-Las Memorias Project, The Tweakers Project, Van Ness Recovery House.

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