Idaho teen meth use drops 52% from 2007 to 2009

BOISE — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest youth risk survey shows methamphetamine use among Idaho teens dropped 52 percent between 2007 and 2009. That’s compared to a decline of less than 10 percent among teens nationwide. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says the finding for Idaho may be due to outreach by the Idaho Meth Project, whose graphic ads aims to discourage youngsters from trying the addictive drug. Otter, whose wife, Lori, is a big Meth Project supporter, says law enforcement, treatment and the Idaho Meth Project are making a difference. He says, “The numbers are extremely encouraging.” Idaho teen meth use dropped from 6.4 percent in 2007 to 3.1 percent in 2009, the survey found. Nationwide, meth use dropped from 4.4 percent to 4.1 percent.