Life or Meth: Task force combining state, federal, city and tribal agencies to combat meth in Nebraska

"It's getting worse. If we are going to fight this, we have to be on the same page."

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – There has never been anything like this task force in the state of Nebraska.

It brings together tribal communities, rural communities, and state and federal agencies across the state.

They will be focused on prevention, treatment, and law enforcement as they prosecute those bringing in and distributing this drug. Over 200 law enforcement officials have come together to try and stop meth from entering and being distributed in the state.

“It’s getting worse. Already just in this morning’s program, we heard information from the DEA about how the amount of meth and the amount of meth being seized is drastically increasing in the state. If we are going to fight this, we have to be on the same page,” said Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson.

The interim U.S. Attorney General in Nebraska, Jan Sharp, explained that in a normal year, 70 to 75% of all drug cases they handle, are meth-related.

“People we are processing are distributors, many of them have horrid criminal records. We are finding over and over and over again that there are firearms that are involved. These are serious serious cases. They have a huge impact on the community,” said Sharp.

The goal is not to put harsh penalties on those using the drug, but rather get them the treatment they need while prosecuting the ones making and distributing the meth.

The state will get the money needed for treatment and prevention through opioid settlement agreements.

“The state over the next several years, 18 years approximately, we are going to receive over $100 million that’s going to primarily go to drug addiction abatement particularly opioids but this can also be a related treatment issue. So it will put us in a better position to look at funding treatment,” said Peterson

The goal of this task force is to work together and share intel to better understand where the drugs are coming from, and in many cases, follow the trail back to the cartel.

“There are so many communities across the state of Nebraska that don’t have a task force to work with. Our goal now is to give those law enforcement officials in those different areas the ability to tap into both the state resources and the federal resources, to better investigate and prosecute,” said Peterson.

The DEA explained that meth is being sold at a much cheaper price than years before, flooding the market and keeping people addicted.

“Memorial stadium in Lincoln holds approximately 85,000 people. If you divide that by 760 pounds seized last year, you would be able to put 65 doses of methamphetamine in each seat of the stadium,” said Justin King, DEA Omaha special agent in charge.

Meth can destroy communities and families.  The FBI stated that last year alone 1,000 children were removed from the home because their parent or guardian was using drugs.

This task force will continue to educate communities on the dangers of this drug.

For more information about the task force, click HERE.