Pubdate: Sun, 07 Dec 2008
Source: Gadsden Times, The (AL)
Copyright: 2008 The Gadsden Times
Contact:  http://www.gadsdentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1203
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DVD HITS HOME FOR TEENS

Zero Meth Campaign Goes Into Its Second Phase

The state upped its focus on teens and the dangers of  drug use
Thursday when some Etowah County students got  an advanced peek at a
DVD that goes along with the Zero  Meth campaign.

Gadsden City High School's ninth graders were the first  to preview
the DVD titled, "The Harsh Realities of  Meth," last month. Some
Southside student were also  shown the film at the Etowah County
judicial building.

Gadsden District Attorney Jimmie Harp joined Gov. Bob  Riley and other
district attorneys in Montgomery for a  press conference to unveil the
DVD for the state. It is  the second installment of the Zero Meth campaign.

The purpose of the campaign is to show students the  horrors of
crystal methamphetamine use, often going  into graphic detail. The
effects of the television  commercials and the DVD have had a positive
effect on  the students. Officials hope the graphic nature will  keep
teens from trying the dangerous drug thus  preventing more from
becoming addicted to meth.

Harp said meth is the No. 1 drug threat facing the  state and that led
to the Zero Meth campaign, with  billboards, television commercials
and now the DVD. He  added that more than 50 percent of children in
foster  care in Northeast Alabama are there because of a meth
infested home and that more than 80 percent of the  cases prosecuted
are meth related.

So far, the commercials and billboards, and now the  DVD, have been
well received. In addition, the  campaign's Web site has received more
than 44,000 page  views since it was launched in February.

All of the publicity will help promote a good cause.  The hope of the
campaign is to keep teens from  starting, because meth is so addictive
that once  someone starts using the drug it is hard to stop.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath