Before you start your own anti-meth group, first make sure there isn't already one in your community that could use your help! If this isn't the case, check out the information provided by Bill Adams, the director of the anti-meth organization, No Meth - Not In My Neighborhood. Through his extensive experience developing and maintaining a successful community group, Bill was able to let the Partnership in on a few basic tips to getting one started:

  • Bring together all interested citizens who are committed to the cause. An organization will prosper if it is based on passion, rather than resources.
  • Ask questions such as, "What can we do so that this does not ruin our quality of life?" By doing this, you can make an assessment of the problem and its seriousness.
  • Talk to your resources and engage rotary clubs and social service organizations for donations and support.
  • Educate the police to be more community-aware, and educate citizens on how to properly take advantage of law enforcement capabilities.
  • Work on a shoestring and attract community partners to help finance a forum to spread the word. When this happens, political officials will start to line up to help the cause.
  • Knock on the doors of significant policy makers. Meth isn't going to go away simply by pushing it out of our towns — we need to get to the heart of it, and that's by changing laws.
  • Focus on prevention and treatment. There is only so much room in the jails, and by focusing on remedying the problem, we can stop it instead of pushing it around the map.