CARE READY FOR METH ADDICTS

Caldwell County was in the national spotlight for a day in August
when the White House Drug Czar attended a roundtable discussion in
the county on the methamphetamine problem in western North Carolina.
Most everyone at the table agreed that treatment is a key to winning
the fight, and treatment is available in Caldwell County.

Christopher Prewitt said health care professionals launched "The
Matrix Model" methamphetamine treatment program in Caldwell County in
April, and Prewitt said the model has a good success rate.

Operated out of the Foothills Mental facility on Morganton Boulevard,
Prewitt said the program is free to county residents and people
directly impacted by meth addiction.

The Matrix Model is very intensive, Prewitt said, starting with 16
weeks of intensive outpatient care where addicts meet three times a
week, followed by 36 weeks of participating in a recovery support
group that meets once or twice a week. The success rate of the trial
run here in Caldwell County will determine whether the program
receives grant funding again next year.

"We want to inform the community that there is treatment available,"
Prewitt said. "Right now, it's the only meth (focused) treatment
program (in the county)."

Once an addict or a family member of an addict decides to seek
treatment or counseling, getting started is simple, Prewitt said.
People simply contact ARP Phoenix at the Foothills Mental Health
facility and tell the operator they are seeking treatment or
counseling for meth addiction.

"They can ask for information on meth treatment," Prewitt said. "It's
free to Caldwell County residents."

The staff at the facility will schedule an assessment, and get the
person into the treatment curriculum. Counseling groups meet three
times a week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the facility.

According to www.hazeldon.org, the Matrix Model is comprehensive,
multi-format program that covers early recovery, relapse prevention,
family education and social support.

The model incorporates couples and family therapy, 12 step
facilitation and group therapy and social support. Hazeldon is a
private drug rehab company.

The Web site information says the Matrix Model is structured
differently than inpatient treatment, using methods proven effective
with stimulant addicts and works because "it's less confrontational,
progress is gradual, the focus is on the present, the client's
allegiance is to the therapist rather than the group, a
non-judgmental attitude is the basis of client-therapist bond,
changes are incorporated immediately into lifestyle."

Alger Harper, the owner of A New Dimension Substance Abuse Counseling
Service, said he's familiar with the Matrix Model and helped get the
program going in Caldwell County.

Harper said he counsels some meth addicts at A New Dimension.

"Addiction is addiction period. No matter if it's alcohol, cocaine,
opiates, whatever," Harper said.

But meth definitely has a worse impact on the addict than many other drugs.

"It seems that when you deal with a meth addict, their mental
functions don't seem to be at the same level (as other addicts),"
Harper said. "They seem to be more distant. They seem to have more
confusion. They also have a high level of paranoia."

Harper said research is showing that meth destroys brain cells faster
than any other substance.

Even though the drug is more destructive, family and friends can take
the same steps to get a meth addict into treatment.

"If you had an alcoholic in the family, you'd talk to them and try to
encourage them to get help. It's no different for meth users," Harper
said. "They are sick and they need some help. You need to get them to
some professional help."

Harper said he thinks a meth addict who has been using for a while
will need more than an outpatient program, but he acknowledged that
outpatient Matrix Model has been proven to be a successful program.

" I think it's designed to work as long as you have all of the
components that go along with the model," Harper said. "As long as
it's done that way, I think it's a good program."

Prewitt said the model has had a high level of success in McDowell
County, and graduates of the Matrix Model program started a Meth
Anonymous group in McDowell. Prewitt said other agencies in the
county are on board with the program and he thinks it can benefit
addicts and residents.

"We want to make this community and county a healthier one," Prewitt said.

To seek treatment, call 757-5685 and ask for information about the
meth treatment program. The program director is Christopher Prewitt.

For more information on the Matrix Model, go to
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/go/MATRIX