CITIZEN TASK FORCE CONFRONTS METH

Law enforcement is overwhelmed, a Salem activist says.

It's rare to meet people these days who haven't been affected by
methamphetamine in one fashion or another.

That realization triggered Salem resident Anna Peterson to start
working on a way to fight the meth "epidemic" locally.

Peterson's objective, along with Dick Withnell, is to create a network
of people who will work on drug prevention and public awareness of the
methamphetamine crisis.

"The meth problem in Salem has grown beyond what local law enforcement
and criminal justice agencies can tackle alone," she said. "It will be
won when individuals step forward to work hand-in-hand with each other
and the law enforcement agencies."

Local authorities said its hands were tied when an enforcement group
devoted to pursuing low- and mid-level drug sales and investigating
street-level drug crimes was disbanded in April.

The Marion Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team was created in
2000 after the federal government designated Marion County as a High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and was supported by $350,000 a year
in federal grants.

The reason it disbanded was two-fold: a reduction in federal money to
support it and a need to put more police officers on patrol to address
citizens' complaints.

This group will perhaps fill some of the gaps left by the drug
enforcement team's absence.

Peterson, a local activist and homemaker, and Withnell, retired owner
of Withnell Motor Co., call their effort No Meth -- Not in My Town.

"Our thrust is to include people from businesses, the faith-based
community, schools, law enforcement and neighborhoods," Peterson said.

So far, a 15-person steering committee has been formed. The task force
will be featured at the Salem Chamber of Commerce meeting Dec. 8.

The group is still working on a list of goals. One idea is put
meth-abuse prevention into the school curriculum.

Withnell said that when he got involved with Family Building Blocks he
realized many of the people there are or have been affected by meth.
And as a business owner he's had his own problems in connection the
drug.

It has stretched beyond the stereotypical low-income user into the
middle class. It's caused car and other retail prices, as well as
insurance costs, to go up because of thefts.

"Business losses, thefts, burglaries, robberies, identity theft and
forgeries, domestic violence, child abuse and even murders are
directly connected to meth," Peterson said.

Withnell said there needs to be an awakening among the
public.

Law enforcement agencies are aware of the problem.

In 2001, drug agents took down 27 labs in Marion County. Last year,
the number jumped to 51.

The disbandment of MAGNET came at a time when when methamphetamine
abuse is running rampant in the Salem area, police said.

Other than law enforcement, Withnell said, most people have been
treating meth like it was someone else's problem.

"Until we believe we are diminished by the meth problem, nothing can
be done," WIthnell said. "If we don't, shame on us.