Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Rob McKenna and Lead On America will bring the “Operation: Allied Against Meth” tour to Spokane on Thursday. It is McKenna’s first high school anti-meth presentation of the 2005-06 school year.

The tour is just one part of the Attorney General’s overall “Operation: Allied Against Meth” strategy, focusing on education, outreach, increased prosecution and policy efforts to fight the spread of this deadly drug in Washington state.

“ Meth has a far-reaching impact on communities, families, law enforcement and the environment,” McKenna said. “That’s why it has been one of my top priorities as attorney general.”

Thursday’s presentation will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Lewis and Clark High School, 521 W. Fourth Ave. in Spokane.

The Attorney General's Office launched the “Operation: Allied Against Meth” initiative last spring with presentations to four high schools across the state.

McKenna will continue the tour this fall and throughout the winter, partnering with Lead On America and other community-based organizations and industry associations to raise awareness and prevent use of methamphetamine.

McKenna has also convened the “Operation: Allied Against Meth” task force, a group of legislators, policy makers, industry representatives, treatment providers and law enforcement personnel, who are working together to devise state policy initiatives to increase cooperation across jurisdictions and improve the state’s ability to combat meth use.

As Attorney General, he hired two new prosecutors to help counties attack the rising number of meth-related crimes.

While in Spokane, McKenna also will be celebrating his 250th day in office with his Eastern Washington staff, speaking to the Spokane Rotary at noon at the Ridpath Hotel and swearing in new assistant attorneys general.

-- 30--

To arrange for interviews contact: Janelle Guthrie, AG Media Relations Director, (360) 586-0725

Topic: