WNEG-TV

NORTHEAST GEORGIA - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has reported that in the past five years, methamphetamine has become the fastest-growing drug problem in Atlanta, Dalton and Gainesville. And, to help reduce the number of lives affected by this illegal drug, state officials have launched the Georgia Meth Project.

Northeast Georgia District Attorney Brian Rickman tells WNEG News that this statewide prevention campaign is aimed primarily at teens. "In particular, try and cut off first-time meth use, which is very important because there's not a lot of causal meth use. Once somebody does it for the first time, the addiction rates are pretty high," comments Rickman.

He explains that this statewide initiative uses all forms of the media to get its message out. "Mainly through PSA's and through partnerships with the schools, targeting students and teens," states Rickman.

He says this is an important tool to get people talking about the problem before someone becomes addicted. "The social costs that go along, not just the health cost to the individual, but the overall costs to citizens are something we hadn't seen as much," continues Rickman.

And, he adds that if the Georgia Meth Project can prevent just one person from trying this highly addictive illegal drug, then the campaign will be a success.

Georgia Meth Project