Montana Meth Project

The Montana Meth Project aims to serve all Montanans as the only fully dedicated Meth prevention program in the state. Our prevention efforts are credited with steady declines in first-time teen Meth use in Montana. Founded in 2005 by businessman Thomas M. Siebel as a private-sector response to a critical public health issue, the Meth Project has been cited by the White House as one of the most effective prevention programs and a model for the nation in addition to being named the 3rd most effective philanthropy in the world by Barrons in its global ranking. As the solely dedicated Meth prevention program in the state, our efforts are vital to ensuring Montana teens are armed with the facts about Meth. In Montana, it has never been more important to keep our Meth prevention message and outreach front and center. According to the Montana Department of Justices Forensic Science Division, Meth remains the drug most frequently encountered by law enforcement and the largest drug threat in Montana. Additionally, the most recent data from the CDCs National Vital Statistics Rapid Release report from May 2023 reports that the rate of drug overdose deaths involving Meth more than quadrupled during the study period from 2016 to 2021. According to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, in 2020 Meth was found in 48% of drug overdose deaths and $48.5 million was charged by Montana hospitals to treat 4,804 patients for Meth-related admissions and emergency department visits. All Montanans exposed to Meth are at risk if they are not armed with the devastating facts about Meth use. Meth does not discriminate based on age, gender, culture, or race, yet our rural and Native communities are particularly vulnerable as the state is flooded with supply. The days of locally produced Meth in homemade labs are over, and the supply has never been more abundant. The cartels inundate our state with the lowest cost, highest-purity, and most addictive Meth ever seen.We deploy our prevention efforts with media campaigns, including NOT EVEN ONCE and ASK ME, that communicate the risks of Meth use; daily social media engagement with our more than 190,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms with content and open discussion about the risks of Meth use; and distribution of the Montana Meth Prevention Lesson Video to middle school and high school students across the state and country. Central to our work is MethProject.org the definitive source for information about Meth. The site serves individuals and organizations dedicated to substance abuse prevention addressing teens most asked questions about Meth with a range of interactive content from animations and quizzes to personal stories.The Montana Meth Prevention Lesson Video is a one-click tool for teachers and homeschool parents to educate students about the facts of Meth use. The video follows original Meth prevention curriculum created by top educators for the Meth Project. Hosted by one of the states top science teachers, the video demonstrates the volatility of the drug, incorporates dynamic animations showing how Meth use affects the mind and body, testimonials from real-life users in recovery, and tips on how to talk to friends and peers about Meth use.Our Paint The State campaign brought in-person drug prevention back to Montana, engaged a new generation of Montanans in the work of the Montana Meth Project, amplified the visibility of the program among social and digital audiences, and inspired the creation of vibrant Not Even Once art pieces across the state delivering 33 million impressions monthly to Montanans as they travel the state. During the contest, we - Harnessed and Grew Our Social Media Following- Organic and paid social media strategies resulted in:- 700,000 Montanans reached with Paint the State messaging - 34% increase in Instagram followers expanding our teen audience - Drove Online Engagement- Online voting for the People's Choice Awards drove program engagement to new heights across a broader audience resulting in: - 70,000 unique visitors to PaintTheState.org - 108,000 votes cast- Shared Stories on Local News- Scalable public relations efforts resulted in: - 102 news stories by local, statewide, and national news aggregators - 693 million news outlet visits Other Notable Accomplishments Include:- Montana's Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released September 2021 by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, has found that Meth use among teens in the state has dropped to an all-time low. The survey is conducted every two years by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a 77% decline in teen Meth use since the inception of the Montana Meth Project in 2005, we are seeing that our awareness and prevention efforts have had a significant impact on teens.- The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey also reports the lowest Native American teen Meth use ever reported.- The Montana Meth Prevention Lesson Video is the only recognized Meth prevention curriculum recognized by the national Red Ribbon Campaign. - The Lesson Video has seen a 300% increase in student use over the previous lesson.- Our campaigns garner nearly BILLION impressions each year through social media, shares, and a small mix of traditional advertising.