AGENCIES BAND TOGETHER TO RAISE METH AWARENESS

Working on the theory that more people looking into a problem is
better, a coalition of area agencies sponsored the Jefferson County
Methamphetamine Update 2006 seminar Tuesday.

The Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson County Community
Partnership, Friends of Jefferson County Drug Court, the Northeast
Jefferson County Methamphetamine Coalition and the National Council
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse have joined forces to form the
Methamphetamine Action Coalition (MAC).

Representatives of those five agencies sponsored the seminar, which
took place at the Arnold office of the Jefferson County Health Department.

"Basically, the purpose of the meeting is, Jefferson County received
five grants from the United Way to address methamphetamine use," said
Kelley Guertzen, health education coordinator for the Jefferson
County Health Department. "The grants went to five agencies and we
decided to come together to expand our resources and reach a greater
population."

Among those attending the meeting were nurses, nursing students and
other members of the medical profession who, at some point, will
treat people suffering from the effects of methamphetamine use, Guertzen said.

"The goal of bringing these groups together today is to begin the
process of educating residents, community organizations and policy
makers about our local meth issues and what we can do about it," she
said. "The whole purpose is to empower people with the knowledge of
the issue and teach them of the resources to take action."

State Rep. Belinda Harris, D-Hillsboro, said she supports the efforts
of the five agencies in the MAC.

"I think awareness and everybody working together is very important,"
Harris said. "You've got to fight this in the streets, in the
community and around the county.

"We have such a diverse group that, with everyone working together,
we might be able to get something done."

One of the featured speakers was Shirley Armstead, a Federal Drug
Administration special agent who showed slides of people suffering
from the effects of methamphetamine use and of locations of meth labs.

Armstead said meth labs can be stationary or mobile. She added she
has encountered meth labs set up in expensive dwellings, along with
shabby homes.

Those who use meth often can be identified by their awful teeth,
Armstead said. "Meth mouth" is a set of teeth ravaged by the effects
of meth, which damages the enamel and rots teeth from the gum line, she said.

Excessive scratching is another sign of meth use, she said.

Armstead also spoke about a new form of heroin that has reached the
country. She said a combination of the drug Fentanyl and heroin is
killing users at an alarming rate.

"What happens with a lot of these people is they go into a deep sleep
and never wake up," she said.

In addition to the health dangers created by meth making, Armstead
said, meth labs also have been known to explode, sometimes causing
spectacular fires.

The other featured speaker at the event was Sgt. Gary Higginbotham of
the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, who said he was happy to
assist in community awareness.

"We want to show people what to look for," he said. "We just want to
increase awareness. We get a lot of tips from citizens."

One reason to get meth makers off the streets: they tend to spread
their expertise to many others.

"The average one meth cook will teach 10 others how to cook," he said.

While it apparently is not all that difficult for people to learn how
to make meth, it is also fairly common for them to make mistakes that
lead to injuries and fatalities, he said.

"The process is not that complicated," he said. "It's just so dangerous."

For more information about MAC, call 789-3372, Ext. 122.