ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 18 -- The Office of the Anchorage Mayor issued the following news release:

This week, the Alaska Meth Education (AME) Project is launching a new series of radio and print advertisements designed to steer young Alaskans away from the highly addictive and illicit drug, methamphetamine. The ad campaign is funded by a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant awarded to the Municipality in 2008.

The AME Project, a group dedicated to reducing Meth use and availability in Alaska, will air the new ads in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, in the Mat-Su Valley and on the Kenai Peninsula.

The ads' theme "Got big plans? Stay away from meth" was designed to resonate with young adults and to keep Alaskans from trying Meth even once.

"With these engaging new ads, we hope to convince young Alaskans of the dangerous and addictive nature of Meth," Acting Mayor Matt Claman said. "The federal grant funding has been instrumental in helping the Alaska Meth Education Project in their statewide outreach."

In addition to radio spots, AME is advertising on the popular website Facebook and will publish posters and print media. This new series of advertisements will complement the community outreach the AME project is currently engaged in across Alaska. In addition to media, AME and community partners are delivering free Meth prevention presentations to Alaskans in five local communities.