The author of a study critical of the Montana Meth Project has recommended that Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the Legislature withhold state money from the advertising campaign.

The Arizona Meth Project was modeled after the Montana Meth Project. We are told it cost $5 million and the cost was split between the Attorney General’s Office and Maricopa County. If it is not working in Montana, and we’re told it’s the exact same program, it is probably not working here. Instead of laying off more employees (we hear another round of layoffs is expected at the AG’s Office in March), the AG’s Office and the County should nix the Meth Project. Maybe the researcher, below, will analyze the Arizona Meth Project too and give us his findings. Unfortunately, coincidentally right after the report came out, Goddard declared two days ago that he will NOT cut the Meth Project. Is he saying that even if the project is a failure, he still won’t cut it? We wonder how many AG employees will lose their jobs in March to pay for it.

The article goes on to say,

David Erceg-Hurn, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Western Australia, said he evaluated reports and news releases issued by the Montana Meth Project since the campaign’s launch in 2005. In a study published in the December issue of Prevention Science journal, Erceg-Hurn said campaign administrators have exaggerated their success and ignored negative findings, at a cost of millions of dollars.

“Given the Meth Project has not been able to demonstrate after three years that its ad campaign is effective, it seems inappropriate for the Legislature to allocate public funding for the project,” Erceg-Hurn said in the recommendation.

Don Stapley
AG Goddard
“Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said goodbye on Tuesday to 10 attorneys and 10 other employees from his office. This press photo shows him at an unrelated event in September. Photo courtesy of AG’s office.”

(photos of Goddard and County Supervisor Don Stapley courtesy of heatcity.org)