Press Release - Methamphetamine Conference Controversy Raised in Salt Lake City: National leaders and researchers hold each other to account

For Immediate Release February 2, 2007 Contact: Luciano Colonna, Tel: 801-635-7736 Methamphetamine Conference Controversy Raised in Salt Lake City: National leaders and researchers hold each other to account SALT LAKE CITY: Mayor Rocky Anderson demanded that America's leaders stop playing politics with people's lives as he opened the 2nd National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV, and Hepatitis. The conference brings together people of color, researchers, treatment providers, LGBT activists, and law enforcement professionals for frank discussions about methamphetamine's impact on communities and families. This is the second time the Harm Reduction Project, a Salt Lake City nonprofit agency, has convened this esteemed group. "This nation's response to drug use shows a lack of integrity and imagination," said Anderson in his speech welcoming the more than 800 participants to Salt Lake City. Anderson called for treatment on demand and for fiscal responsibility from elected officials who must promote treatment rather than incarceration. Mayor Anderson's welcome followed an emotional and highly charged address by HRP Executive Director Luciano Colonna who asked participants to take responsibility for their role in failing American families when it comes to confronting drug abuse. "You will be challenged and you will be uncomfortable," said Colonna, "but we cannot deny our culpability in making the criminal justice system the fallback strategy in America's failed war on drugs." Colonna called on researchers and treatment providers to play a more active role in changing public policy and response to drug use. Colonna and Anderson received standing ovations from the participants. Dr. Patricia Case of Fenway Community Health brought humor and some bewildered head-shaking when she presented evidence of America's long infatuation with stimulants. Case showed slides of advertisements from the 1950's promoting amphetamines for weight loss and as "mother's little helper." Youth activist Caitlin Padgett from Vancouver Canada finished the morning's presentation with a dynamic call to action on behalf of young people. After a full day of presentations ranging from replacement therapy - a controversial approach to meth addiction - to an interactive panel about treatment for women featuring Utah expert Kathy Bray. The day wrapped up with a special screening of "Rock Bottom" an explicit film about meth in the gay community. The conference continues through Saturday. A complete program and speaker list is available at www.methconference.org [8] and www.harmredux.org [9]. ###