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Press Release
Phoenix House-Sponsored Meth Conference Draws More Than 300 Professionals From Texas Substance Abuse Field
HOUSTON, TX, January 20, 2006 – On Friday January 20, Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit drug treatment organization, sponsored a conference on methamphetamine policy that drew more than 300 professionals from across the state in the treatment, prevention, and law enforcement fields. The conference, which was held in Montgomery, Texas, sought to enhance prevention and treatment services for methamphetamine abuse and to improve enforcement of drug laws to stop the drug’s spread.
“A meth epidemic is spreading across the country,” said Marcia Baker, director of Phoenix House’s programs in Houston and Galveston. “The prevention, treatment and law enforcement communities must come together and work as partners to avoid the devastating consequences of meth on our communities. That is what we are trying to achieve with this conference.”
The conference, titled “Meth 2006 – Not What It’s Cranked Up To Be,” featured representatives from Texas’ law enforcement, treatment and prevention communities. Speakers included Scott Burns of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Ric Smith of the US Drug Enforcement Administration; Ken Nicolas, Director of Special Programs for Texas Governor Rick Perry; Becky Vance of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; Dr. Dennis Embry, President and CEO of the Praxis Institute; and Ms. Baker of Phoenix House.
The conference was presented by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and the Coalition of Behavioral Health Services-North. In addition to Phoenix House, other sponsoring organizations were Montgomery County Youth Services, Parent Guidance center, Cypress Creek and West Oaks Hospitals, 40 Developmental Assets, Intracare Hospitals, and Partners of the Safe School Initiative.
Phoenix House is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, operating more than 100 programs in nine states. Since 1967, Phoenix House has treated more than 100,000 substance abusers – currently caring for a population of more than 6,000 at residential centers for adults, residential Phoenix Academies combining long-term treatment and schooling for adolescents, outpatient, after school, and day programs.
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Media Contact: Mike Hathcoat
mhathcoat@phoenixhouse.org
(214) 999-1044, ext. 3151
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