Carson to get meth funding in federal budget

Carson City will get federal funding to help support its anti-methamphetamine program.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., announced the funding as part of the 2007 appropriations act. But a spokesman from his office was unable to say how much money Partnership Carson City will receive. She said the actual dollar amount won't be determined until the conference committee of House and Senate members meets.

Carson City Manager Linda Ritter said the city asked for $350,000 but confirmed there isn't a dollar amount in the legislation at this point.

Gibbons said the money will create five task forces: law enforcement, community awareness, education and prevention, public policy and treatment and rehabilitation.

Ritter said the city has already put $200,000 into the effort but that federal funding would provide a number of things Carson City simply can't afford.

She said some of the money would be used to train and purchase drug dogs and to purchase other equipment.

"A lot of it is in the treatment and rehabilitation because meth is not a three-to-six-weeks thing and you're off it," she said. "It takes over a year to get off it."

She said the coalition also wants to improve and expand services through the juvenile court system and to have the university build a data collection system.

Carson Mayor Marv Teixeira has described meth abuse as epidemic in the capital city.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.

At a glance

What is Partnership Carson City?

Partnership Carson City is a coalition made up of city, school, civic and law-enforcement officials, as well as other community leaders.

What does it do?

Members work together to combat methamphetamine use and sales in Carson City.

In July, the committee was divided into several task forces: community awareness, prevention, public policy, treatment and enforcement.

Each subcommittee focuses on issues relating to its particular topics.

Why?

The Carson City Board of Supervisors named combating meth use as its No. 1 priority last year.

Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Oct. 31, 2005, the Nevada Department of Public Safety's nine Narcotic Task Forces opened 1,131 drug-related cases, with 61 percent of those cases being meth-related.