by Travis Mateer
In March of 2016, I wrote about how the Montana Meth Project was persisting as an organization despite its obvious failures to reduce meth use through its infamous ad campaigns.
A Democrat Governor by the name of Brian Schweitzer seemed to acknowledge this failure when he slashed financial support, but our next Democrat Governor, Steve Bullock, felt differently, and I’m sure it had nothing to do with his wife being on the board.
Here’s a quote from the Missoula Independent’s reporting at the time:
A 2008 study published in Prevention Science determined the Meth Project’s tactics actually led to “increases in the acceptability of using methamphetamine and decreases in the perceived danger of using drugs.” The study also accused the Meth Project of cherry-picking its data to seem more successful, considering that Montana teen meth use, as reported by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, had already been decreasing since 1999. In light of the criticism, then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer used his line-item veto to slash public funding to the Meth Project.
Despite the drug’s resurgence within the state in the last few years, the Meth Project continues to claim credit for spreading awareness about its dangers and reducing first-time use. In 2015, the Montana Meth Project celebrated “10 years of unselling meth.” The project’s current activities are a shadow of its heyday, but it’s still running active social media campaigns and contests, like this year’s “Life or Meth” video submissions competition. It reported about $260,000 in income on its 2014 tax return, almost entirely from private contributions. First Lady Lisa Bullock is listed as a member of its board of directors.
The Montana Meth Project kept at it and, in 2017, featured Craig Headdress telling parts of his story on their website. Here’s a quote from a NBC Montana article were Headdress is quoted:
One of the videos includes a testimonial from Thursday’s speaker, Craig Headdress.
“I was so out of control and if I didn’t stop using, I wouldn’t be here today telling my story. I’d probably be dead,” Headdress said.
Now three years clean, Headdress says a campaign like the Montana Meth Project’s could have changed his battle and his life.
“I don’t want these young kids to live the nightmare that I lived,” he said.
Here’s what Headdress looked like back when the Montana Meth Project was taking him around to high schools, pimping his story for donations.
And here’s what Craig Headdress looks like now in his mugshot after spitting on several teens last Sunday afternoon before threatening them with a knife and triggering a BIG police response, including SWAT.
Here is KGVO’s report on what transpired between Craig Headdress and local teens before the 911 call brought a heavy police response to the neighborhood:
At around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Missoula Police Department officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hickory and River Street. It was reported that a male was threatening pedestrians with a knife around that area. Detectives interviewed the pedestrians, who were four boys ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old.
One of the pedestrians, identified as A.M, said he was playing a game with his brother when a male with a leashed pit-bull walked up to them and spat in their direction. A.M. saw the spit land between his brother’s legs. A.M. asked the male why he spat at them and the male replied by spitting in A.M.’s face.
A.M. then informed the male he was going to call the cops. The male replied by taking out a knife and stating, “I’m going to stab you.” One of the other four boys also heard the male say “I will end you.” Detective Lieutenant Eddie McLean explains.
I know this might come as a shock to those who mistake social media for reality, but it takes more than online social media campaigns to address issues like addiction. Of course, when there’s money to be made through donations, and politicians around to bask in the unwarranted credit, organizations like the Montana Meth Project will continue to exist to suckle money and make bullshit claims about their effectiveness.
To bolster its own profile, MMP features a list of the 25 BEST GIVERS at its website. The top givers, according to MMP, are Bill and Melinda Gates. Number eight is Bill Clinton. Number twenty one is Oprah. And finishing up this fascinating list of the BEST GIVERS is…wait for it…GEORGE SOROS!!!
Four years ago Craig Headdress had a personal narrative that non-profit exploiters at MMP saw value in, so they used him for it. Now he’s got a neck tattoo and a hopeless demand to be shot and killed by law enforcement.
Great work, Montana Meth Project! How did we ever manage to cope without your amazing ability to create ad campaigns for social media and board positions for the wives of Governors?
Thanks for reading.