ABOUT US
MISSION
RESULTS
TEAM
PUBLICATIONS
CONTACT US

The Meth Project, founded by businessman and Montana rancher Tom Siebel, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on developing statewide and regional Meth prevention campaigns. The Meth Project founded and currently manages the activities and creative direction of a number of statewide Meth prevention efforts, including the Montana Meth Project, the Arizona Meth Project, the Idaho Meth Project, the Illinois Meth Project, the Wyoming Meth Project, the Colorado Meth Project, Hawaii Meth Project, and the Georgia Meth Project.

The Meth Project has demonstrated significant results in changing attitudes towards Meth since its inception and has been cited as a model prevention program for the nation by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Meth Project is working with states across the nation interested in replicating the program as part of their efforts to reduce the prevalence of methamphetamine use.

Recent survey data in Idaho demonstrates attitudes and behaviors toward Meth have changed since the campaign launched in January 2008.

IDAHO METH PROJECT SUMMARY

THE PROBLEM

As of January 2008, Idaho was overwhelmed by methamphetamine abuse:

  • 1 in 5 Idaho teens saw little or no risk in trying Meth once or twice1
  • 63% of Idaho felony drug court participants indicated that Meth was their drug of choice2
  • 80% of the child placements by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare were directly related to drug abuse with Meth being the most prevalent drug of choice3

THE CAMPAIGN

Since January 2008, the Idaho Meth Project has sustained a large-scale, statewide prevention campaign spanning TV, radio, billboards, high school newspapers and the Internet. This campaign has included:

  • 48,210 TV ads
  • 54,655 Radio ads
  • 726 Billboards
  • 5,892,316 Print and Online Impressions

During this same period of time, the Idaho Meth Project also conducted over 900 community and school presentations throughout the state of Idaho.

IMPACT

Idaho Market Results since January 2008:
Compared to the 2007 benchmark survey, Idaho teens and young adults have come to view Meth as more dangerous and recognize the Idaho Meth Project as a key source of information.

  • 66% of teens (up 11 points) and 78% (up 10 points) of young adults now believe there is "great risk" in taking Meth just once or twice4
  • Now, more than least eight in ten teens believe there is "great" or "moderate risk" of the following after trying the drug once:5
    • Tooth decay (85%; "great risk" up 20 points)
    • Lack of hygiene (88%; "great risk" up 17 points)
    • Stealing (87%; "great risk" up 13 points)
    • Getting hooked on Meth (94%; "great risk" up 11 points)
    • Losing control of themselves (91%; "great risk" up 11 points)
    • Having sex with someone they don't want to (89%; "great risk" up 15 points)
    • Turning into someone they don't want to be (93%; "great risk" up 12 points)
  • Anti-Meth advertising is clearly widespread in Idaho‹seen or heard at least once a week by 60% of teens and 59% of young adults. Most have seen or heard a Meth-related ad in the past month (85% of teens and young adults).
  • Idaho young people "strongly agree" ads by the Idaho Meth Project make them less likely to try or use Meth (70% of teens and 60% of young adults).
  • Peer-to-peer discussions about Meth are more likely to occur than they were prior to the launch of the Idaho Meth Project. Six in 10 teens and seven in 10 young adults have told their friends not to use Meth (up 5 points for teens; up 10 points for young adults).
  • Parent-child discussions about Meth are more frequent among young adults than they were two years ago. Over half of teens (63%, up 7 points) say they have discussed the subject of Meth with their parents in the past year).

1Baseline Idaho Meth Use & Attitudes Survey
2Idaho Supreme Court
3Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
4, 5 2009 Idaho Meth Use & Attitudes Survey