Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Karen P. Tandy today announced the results of the DEA-led “Operation Wildfire,” the largest nationally coordinated law enforcement initiative designed to target all levels of the methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution chain in the United States and continue the fight against the spread of methamphetamine. This unprecedented law enforcement effort involved over 200 U.S. cities and resulted in the arrest of 427 individuals. The streamlined efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement resulted in the seizure of 209 pounds of methamphetamine, 201,035 tablets of pseudoephedrine, 158 kilograms of pseudoephedrine powder and 224,860 tablets of ephedrine. Fifty six clandestine laboratories were seized in the nationwide sweep and 30 endangered children were removed from their meth environments. Finally, 28 vehicles and 123 weapons were seized during the raids and 96 search warrants were executed.

Read the DEA Press release and view a map of cities involved in Operation Wildfire.

Bad news for marijuana growers in California. Thanks to law enforcement officials in California, marijuana seizures are up dramatically.

"Agents have seized more than $2.6 billion worth of marijuana plants this year, already surpassing last year's season total by 20 percent, authorities said.

The state Department of Justice's annual Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, or CAMP, is still a month away from wrapping up operations after the season peak at the end of September.

The raids, many in remote, forested terrain, pit agents against often heavily armed guards protecting their marijuana plots."

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The battle over coca has taken more lives in Colombia. The Washington Post covers the story:

"Rebels massacred 13 coca harvesters and their cook, the latest victims of a feud among paramilitary gangs fighting to control Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade, authorities said Thursday.

Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, gunned down Flor Maria Gutierrez and the 13 men as she served them lunch Wednesday on a farm near the village of Puerto Valdivia, 220 miles northwest of the capital, Bogota."

The 2005 Red Ribbon campaign theme commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the kidnapping, torture and murder of Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Mexico. During the week of October 23–October 31, friends and neighbors wear red badges made of satin in his honor to show they will continue his fight against illegal drugs. The Red Ribbon Campaign sponsored by the National Family Partnership reaches millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week each year.

The Georgetown School District near Austin, Texas will start randomly testing some students this year. More and more schools are exploring this tool as a way to reduce use in their communities. KXAN TV has the story:

"Each month, students participating in competitive sports will be picked at random and tested for drugs.

It's a first in Williamson County.

A third of Georgetown's high school students surveyed last year admitted they had used an illegal substance in the past six months.

Now, the Georgetown School District hopes the new drug testing will make students think twice about using illegal drugs and alcohol.

As students athletes train and test their skills, they will also be put through a new kind of tests.

"I think anybody that doesn't realize that we have problems with our youth with drug abuse isn't realistic," Georgetown ISD Superintendent Joe Dan Lee said.

Lee says he was shocked 33 percent of high school students admitted to using illegal drugs and alcohol.

"Even if it was 10 percent, that's too many," Lee said.

So now, each month, students participating in competitive sports will be picked randomly and tested for marijuana, cocaine, methaphetamines, ecstasy plus other illegal substances.

Students won't get any forewarning.

"The whole purpose of the program is two fold—one is to encourage kids and give them reason to say no and not start using drugs, but if they are using, it will give them another reason to stop," Lee said."

Photos are now available from last week's event in Nashville. Visit www.MethResources.gov for more information.

Click here to see more photos

Today in Nashville, TN, John Walters, the Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP); Alberto R. Gonzales, U.S. Attorney General; and Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlighted the Administration’s dedication to combating methamphetamine in a joint appearance at the Davidson County Drug Court and Treatment Center. The Administration officials discussed the Federal government’s comprehensive, balanced approach to the meth problem; which includes reducing meth production and trafficking, advancing treatment and prevention for meth addiction, and unveiling new Administration initiatives for continuing to fight the meth threat from all angles.

Putting the meth problem in a national perspective, ONDCP Director John Walters said, “The methamphetamine challenge has touched communities across this Nation differently, but its devastating consequences are borne by all Americans. Through the National Drug Control Strategy and the National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan, the Federal government has implemented a balanced approach to fighting meth. Together with our state and local partners, we are aggressively pushing back against the drug and our collaborative efforts are generating significant progress in several critical areas.”

To build upon the progress already made in the effort against meth, the Bush Administration today announced an essential resource for communities combating the meth problem, www.MethResources.gov.

For additional information on methamphetamine and today's event visit the ONDCP Web site.

Click here for larger image

Tomorrow at 2:00 pm (ET), Director Walters will be participating in the online interactive forum, "Ask the White House." He will be discussing the dangers of Methamphetamine and the efforts to combat the spread of this destructive drug.

To submit a question, please visit the White House Web site.

Yesterday, Deputy Director Mary Ann Solberg was the keynote speaker at the 2005 National D.A.R.E. Conference in San Antonio, TX. Deputy Director Solberg addressed an audience of over 1,500 D.A.R.E. Officers from all 50 States and nations from around the world, including Costa Rica, Brazil, and Thailand. During her keynote address, Deputy Director Solberg highlighted the importance of student drug testing and community coalitions as a way to reduce American drug use. She also thanked the D.A.R.E. program for their steadfast commitment to educating our youth on the severity of using and abusing drugs.

A couple of teens in Vancouver, Washington are spreading the word about the dangers of meth. Oregon's FOX 12 reports that, "Nick Heup and Heather Wood are handing out "Live Meth Free" bracelets. It's just part of their crusade to educate other kids about the dangers of methamphetamine. The two have talked to hundreds of middle school and high school kids in Clark County as part of their work with the youth meth action team. They say trying to fight the problem of meth can be overwhelming, but every little bit helps."

To read more about the Bush Administration's efforts to combat meth, click here.

Those who do face up to a year in jail, $4,000 fine.

For years, law enforcement has targeted retailers who sell alcohol to minors. Now community leaders are taking aim at parents who provide a keg, six-packs, or shots to underage drinkers.

The “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaign is headed by the Alliance on Underage Drinking. The campaign was born in 1999 after Dallas, Texas police issued 200 alcohol and curfew violations citations to Park Cities, Texas teens partying in a warehouse.

The program, also sponsored by the North Texas Police Chiefs Association, schools and community programs, warns that those who give minors alcohol—either voluntarily or through negligence—will be punished.

Many ONDCP-funded Drug-Free Community Coalitions around the nation are supporters of this program and are spreading the word that providing alcohol to minors is irresponsible, dangerous, and illegal.

A Fish and Game warden working to protect our public lands against drug traffickers was shot during a marijuana raid last week in Santa Clara County, California. View photos of the dramatic rescue courtesy of NBC 11 in the Bay area.

The San Francisco Chronicle has the story:

"Authorities said Monday that the first wounding of an agent in the state's 21-year campaign to combat illicit marijuana farming during the summer growing season underscored the dangers authorities faced, often from Mexican drug cartels using armed guards and booby traps to protect multimillion-dollar crops in public wilderness areas."

This shows how domestically grown marijuana doesn't come from friendly "Cheech and Chong" types. The marijuana trafficking business is often a violent, dangerous trade which is funded by marijuana consumers.

Our Nation’s Capitol community residents are taking notice to the increased danger of higher potency marijuana. Washington DC’s NBC 4 reported that a recent study from the Household Survey found that over 95 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once.

Many parents may discount the seriousness of marijuana use because they remember pot the way it used to be. But today, marijuana can be up to 20 times more potent than it was in the 1960s....

John Walters, the director of the national drug control policy, says parents need to understand that marijuana—especially today in its more potent form—does create addiction. Anti-drug advocates say marijuana has changed and parents need to know and understand the difference.

More North Texas school districts are starting to randomly test students. From the Dallas Morning News (registration required):

"The list of school districts that randomly test for drug use has grown significantly in the last several years. Almost two dozen North Texas districts have mandatory tests of student athletes and those in the band, drill team and other school-sponsored groups.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will begin drug testing this school year.

That district and Frisco ISD, which has been testing since 2000, also will start testing for steroids. Grapevine-Colleyville's decision to test came after The Dallas Morning News reported in February that nine Colleyville Heritage High athletes, seven of them football players, admitted that they had used steroids during the previous school year."

Many things you personally do—or could do—every day make a big difference for children and teenagers. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, neighbor, aunt, uncle, friend, mentor, volunteer, or someone who just enjoys spending time with kids, you have something to contribute. Even a skill that you may take for granted can be an opportunity for a youth to be inspired. Visit HelpYourCommunity.org to learn more.

The White House recently announced the nomination of James F.X. O’Gara as the Deputy Director for Supply Reduction for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Director Walters said, “As the principal author of the last four National Drug Control Strategies, James O'Gara has been at the heart of our efforts to reduce drug use in America. He is an outstanding choice to continue the progress we have made in disrupting the market for illegal drugs.”

Read the related press release.