OFFICIALS DISCUSS GROWING PROBLEM OF METH USE AT REGIONAL
SUMMIT

Multiple, easily-accessible chemicals melded into one substance has
created a drug of choice that has led to many social problems.

The problem of methamphetamine use has become so large in the region
that its abuse prompted leaders from Weld and Larimer counties to
gather Monday at The Ranch in Loveland to discuss the problem of the
drug's abuse in northern Colorado.

About 70 people participated in the day-long brainstorming session.
State, county and city government officials, law enforcement
representatives and people from local treatment centers in both
counties joined the discussions.

John Horton, associate deputy director for state and local affairs
in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, spoke
early in the meeting about the national problem. He said local
governments need to lead the way in tackling the problem and he
applauded Colorado's laws that make it more difficult to
purchase ingredients used for the drug.

Experts talked about the drug problem that is correlated with child
abuse and neglect. More information about the addictive drug set a
solemn tone at the meeting.

Deb Hill, a drug and alcohol counselor at Island Grove Regional
Treatment Center in Greeley, spoke about the day she discovered
meth. The day before she graduated high school, one of her cousins
shared the drug with her.

"As soon as I used that first line I knew that things were going to
change," Hill said.

But things didn't change immediately. Hill said she found a
substance that gave her a surge of energy and empowered her when she
was uncomfortable.

"Methamphetamine worked for me," Hill said. "I used it for the
weekend and stopped in time to go to work."

Eventually she used the drug during the week and couldn't hold a
steady job. Hill said she ended up in a homeless shelter with a
6-month-old child and eventually gave birth to her third child who
was born affected by the drug.

But all was not lost.

"We do recover," Hill said. "We become responsible, productive,
loving parents."

That message hit Scoot Crandall, executive director of TEAM Fort Collins.

"I came here with the idea that there's no such thing as a
recovering meth addict, but that's not true," Crandall said.

Local leaders shared ideas about how to prevent, intervene and treat
addictions. Possible partnerships could develop in the future.

"There was good dialogue," said Weld County Commissioner Dave Long.
"That's always the beginning step. Everybody had open minds. Now we
just have to draw on what the positive ideas are."

The steering committee that organized the meeting now has the
opportunity to review ideas and continue discussions that could lead
to partnerships in the efforts to fight meth addiction.

Percentage of patients admitted at Island Grove Regional Treatment
Center who admitted using meth:

* Increased from 14 percent to 21 percent between 2003 and 2005 in Weld County

* Increased from 16 percent to 30.5 percent between 2003 and 2005 in
Larimer County