METH USE HERE LEVELING OFF

But Whole-Community Effort Still Needed, Says Task Force

EUREKA -- Dealing with the methamphetamine problem in Humboldt
County will take the whole community, county officials told the
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. But one good sign is
that meth use here seems to have leveled off.

Craig Hill, senior program manager for the Department of Health and
Human Services' Mental Health Dual Recovery Programs, also told
supervisors that the number of people seeking treatment has gone up,
which may mean that more people are seeking help.

The supervisors held a study session on the Speed Prevention and
Awareness Network, the county's methamphetamine task force. The task
force was first created in 2001 and started up again in 2003 after a
hiatus. It includes three subcommittees -- one focused on prevention
of meth use, one on treatment options, and one on law enforcement.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that creates feelings of euphoria,
followed by problems such as violent behavior, depression, insomnia
and hallucinations, said Hill. He added that it can cause permanent
damage to areas of the brain related to memory, depression and
anxiety, as well as stroke-producing damage.

And it's "rapidly addictive," said Helene Barney, program manager for
the county's Mental Health Branch Dual Recovery Programs.

The drug has multiple effects -- on families, on users' health and
on the legal system, she said.

Fifth District Supervisor Jill Geist added that the drug is cheap,
which makes it appealing to users. But, she said, it's very toxic.

Hill added that meth affects more than just its users. Families are
destroyed when parents use meth, and children often end up taken
from the home. In addition, the toxic chemicals used in meth
manufacturing can cause major environmental damage, he said.

When it comes to treatment, "We never have enough," Hill said. There
is a waiting list for many programs.

The good news is that there has been more education locally in
recent months, he said. Public television station KEET-TV created
two documentaries on the subject, and the meth task force's
prevention committee has formed a speakers bureau.

Mike Goldsby, program manager for health education in the county's
Public Health Branch, said young people are particularly in need of
prevention efforts.

"Prevention now can ease a lot of suffering later," he said.

Hill said he hopes to get more people involved in the fight against
methamphetamine.

"The task before us is challenging, but it's attainable," Hill said.