COMMUNITY LEADERS: WE CAN BEAT THIS DRUG'

FARMINGTON -- A behavioral health summit was held June 14, 2000, at
the Farmington Civic Center -- the very same theater where the
problem of methamphetamine was addressed Wednesday and Thursday.

Farmington Mayor Bill Standley said the 2000 summit was held in
response to the troubles associated with alcohol -- a problem many
citizens felt was "out of control."

But through the collaboration by the county's many entities to tackle
a single community problem, alcohol troubles decreased, he said.

Deaths resulting from DWIs were chopped in half in 15 years, Standley
said. He added San Juan County's DWI program is now a model for the
state of New Mexico, and similar improvements can be done concerning
the problem of meth.

That is why the San Juan Safe Communities Initiative Summit is so
relevant, said event organizers -- because beating this drug is possible.

What it will take, said the mayor and others, is for all of the
county's many organizations and agencies to operate under a single
unified plan.

Thursday morning, New Mexico Drug Czar Herman Silva took the stage at
the Civic Center to encourage San Juan County to stay the course and
get all aspects of the community involved.

Silva gave an overview of the extent of the problem in the county.

According to Silva, San Juan County leads New Mexico in meth items
analyzed for authorities by the Department of Public Safety.
Following Bernalillo County, San Juan County also has the largest
number of meth-exposed children in protective custody, said Dr. Rey
Martinez of the New Mexico Highlands University, whose studies Silva
cited in his address.

Despite the prevalence of the problems associated with the drug,
Silva complimented San Juan County for its devotion to a community initiative.

"(It is great) to see a community mobilize and step forward and take
some action -- aggressive action, progressive action -- to try and
resolve some of the issues in the community," he said. "The
legislators can all tell you that a lot of stuff that happens, and a
lot of what gets accomplished up in Santa Fe, is driven by our local
communities. And the ability to collaborate and to unite and focus on
some needs in the communities is going to derive the results, if
there are any at all."

However optimistic local and state leaders are about the possibility
of improvement in the community, Tami Spellbring, community service
manager with Children, Youth and Families Department, said San Juan
County is home to some grim statistics about children whose lives are
affected by the drug.

Children placed in CYFD custody as a result of meth exposure has
increase dramatically since 2004, she said. More specifically, San
Juan County has the highest rates of meth exposure in the state.

There were 214 children in CYFD custody in San Juan County last
month. Ninety-one were there because of methamphetamine use in their
home, she said. Additionally, almost 90 percent of CYFD cases in San
Juan have moderate to severe substance abuse.

"In almost all of those (cases), meth is involved. There may be
alcohol, marijuana Advertisementand other drugs but usually meth goes
along with those as well," she said.

Spellbring also presented evidence that more school-age children are
using the drug for reasons similar to those cited by adults:
increased study time, increased athletic performance and for sexual
stimulation.

The long-term effects of methamphetamine use are simply unknown, she
said, adding studies have not been done.

After returning from break and working in task-force groups, speakers
during the summit wrap-up addressed other corners of the community.

Drug abuse within the oil and gas industry continues to be a concern,
according to ConocoPhillips Co. Manager Bruce Gantner.

oil field drug abuse causes much of the theft, vandalism, reduced
productivity and injury within the industry, costing companies great
deficits, he said. A large amount of the money lost is incurred in
indirect costs, such as repairs, clean-up and sometimes temporary
mechanical shut-down.

Reported assaults and violent acts are also on the rise within the
workplace, he said.

ConocoPhillips is working to safeguard against drug-induced criminal
activity by implementing mandatory post-accident testing.

"We expect employees to come to work not using, not under the
influence and without materials used to do drugs," he said.

Although ConocoPhillips Co. does not mandate drug tests for employees
after accidents, representatives hope to do so within the next two or
three years, he said. As of now, the company tests employees 50
percent of the time after the workers are involved in accidents.

It is difficult to hire drug-free help, he said. Workers who test
positive for methamphetamine can "clean up" and sign on at another
company, making it difficult for industry officials to keep tabs on
substance abuse.

Officials are positive that they can work toward reduced drug use.

"I like to think it's never too late in our industry to clean up," he said.

As the summit came to an close Thursday afternoon, task force leaders
sat down to discuss what they learned.

Farmington City Councilor Dan Darnell said he believes there is a
need for more public campaigns about the problem, noting parents need
to be more informed as to the tell-tale signs of meth use.

Law enforcement officers need additional training in several areas,
he said. Treatment options also need to include more mentoring and research.

"What can be done?" Mayor Standley asked earlier in the day.

He answered his own question: "Make a commitment beyond just
attending the meeting, get active in the community and implement
policies that change things for the better."

A second follow-up summit, with more public involvement, is scheduled
for Nov. 7 and 8.