The Methamphetamine Treatment Center of Excellence of Pima County, Arizona, was deemed 'unique in the country' by the Office of National Drug Control Policy office before the unveiling of President Bush's plan to reduce meth use and trafficking, the Tuscon Citizen reported on May 31.

Operated by the Community Partnership of Souther Arizona in conjunction with Compass Health Care and La Frontera Center, the new program is the first to use the Matrix model developed in California and adapt it specifically for meth users.

The first 24 adults completing the 16-week outpatient program receive a combination of thrice-weekly drug testing, motivational rather than confrontational counseling and housing and employment assistance. Participants also attend up to six and a half hours of group therapy a week and ten individual therapy sessions throughout the program.

'We try to move with them rather than against them,' said Carmen Carlone, clinical supervisor at La Frontera Center. 'If they relapse or use meth, we don't kick them out of the program.'

The program is funded by $300,000 in state substance abuse treatment funds.