The rates of meth abuse in Indian country are still higher than any other ethnic group.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne today joined the National Congress of American Indians in a partnership for a drug-free America.

Together they're launching a public awareness campaign to fight meth - funded by the federal government.

"It’s to get the word out and it's to do it in a way that captures the imagination of young people as well," said Kempthorne.

The mother of a recovering meth addict says the campaign is modeled on a campaign already underway in Montana.

"It's making a difference cause these kids are seeing these billboards of what you look like today and in three years what people look like after doing meth for three years.  And it's unbelievable. Kids are finally waking up and saying you know what - 'I don't need to do this,'" said Carol Lankford, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.

The White House drug policy office says Mexican drug traffickers are partly responsible for spreading meth to tribes.