COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO FIND ANSWERS ABOUT METH

Local leaders who see dangers of the drug methamphetamine say the
first step to curing what has become an epidemic is public
involvement.

The community showed its involvement Tuesday, as about 100 people
gathered in Owensboro Community College's Blandford Hall for "Meth
Madness," a forum in which a panel answered questions about the
dangers of the drug.

The panel consisted of U.S. Attorney Steve Reed, family counselor
Vivian Simmons, Owensboro Police Chief Alan Dixon, prevention
specialist Chad Gesser, Commonwealth's Attorney Jay Wethington, Dr.
Robert Knight and Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain.

What many people discovered is meth is not just a user's problem. It
also trickles down to the person's family and even the community.

Questions were generated from people attending the event, callers
watching the show on OCC channel 51, as well as through the
Messenger-Inquirer Web site.

The panel covered several topics about meth and advised the audience
what they should do if the believe the drug is being used or
manufactured around them.

Members of the panel discussed how they see the meth problem every
day.

"The people I see are not the people you would think," Simmons said.
"They're lawyers and community leaders, and their habit becomes
uncomfortable for their families."

Dixon said the police department has worked 100 drug cases this year,
half of which were meth related.

The drug is more difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor
than traditional drugs such as marijuana, he said.

"There's no chain of usage (for methamphetamine) because it's so
simple to manufacture," Dixon said. "The lack of knowledge allows it
to grow."

Wethington said meth-related cases come into his office constantly.
Fifteen meth cases will go before the grand jury in June, he said.

"It's taxing in all aspects of law enforcement, but we are making
strides with this forum and through the legislature."

Knight said he has treated people suffering effects of taking the drug
and from people injured attempting to mix chemicals and form the drug.
Many injuries are respiratory burns from inhaling the toxic chemicals
used to make meth.

"It's a tough drug to kick," Knight said.

Cain said meth has become a community problem.

"It has a stranglehold on this community, and if we don't get a hold
of it it's going to destroy us," Cain said.

Cain said residents shouldn't be afraid to get involved if they know a
person who uses meth or feel like it may being produced where they
live. Knight said family members should attempt to get a user to seek
treatment.

"And seek treatment yourself because it's your problem too," he said.
"They're not bad people. Many of them want to quit are tears because
they can't."

Wethington said people should look for signs that meth usage may be
going on around them.

Reed said every person involved helps combat the fight against
meth.

"I look around here, and there are people from all walks of life," he
said. "That's inspirational to me."

Karen Thompson, a producer with OCC-TV, Channel 51, moderated along
with Dan Heckel, city editor of the Messenger-Inquirer.