FIGHTING CRIME, CONTROLLING METH USE FIT HAND IN HAND, HERZFELD SAYS

Fighting crime and the prevalent use and manufacture of
methamphetamine fall in the same web for the Saline County Prosecuting
Attorney's Office.

"Meth manufacturing and abuse creates a ripple effect in our society,"
Prosecuting Attorney Robert Herzfeld said. "Within a short time of
becoming addicted, addicts typically turn to crime to feed their habit.

"They will beg, borrow and then steal and do whatever else they have
to do to get meth. Crimes such as hot checks, shop-lifting,
prostitution, burglary, and even assault, rape and murder are usually
related to meth abuse in one way or another."

Herzfeld unveiled a public service campaign today, which focuses on
raising awareness of methamphetamine.

In an effort to stop methamphetamine use and manufacture, there have
been several 30- to 40- year convictions by his office during the past
year.

Herzfeld described "fighting the war" on drugs as a "two-prong
approach." The primary goal is to get methamphetamine users and
manufacturers away from using and dealing. The second approach
involves "giving them an opportunity to conquer addiction through
intensive supervision and support," he said.

Drug court is an example of an intense supervised program designed "to
help addicts enter normal society and help them become healthy,
productive taxpaying citizens."

Through television, radio and the Internet, people will be able to
seek information on methamphetamine.

The mediums are designed to offer information to people who want to
know about methamphetamine - what it is, identifying laboratories and
identifying methamphetamine users. At a more in-depth level, a Web
site, stopmeth.info, also helps concerned individuals who want to know
where to go and who to turn to to learn how to "fight the problem."

For instance, Herzfeld said, if a parent thought his child was using,
he could visit the Web site, learn the warning signs and contact law
enforcement officials through the hot line.

Warning signs include erratic activity, nervousness, excitability,
decreased appetite, increased physical activity and staying awake for
long periods of time.

The Web site also has information of the history of methamphetamine,
how the illegal drug affects society and treatment options.

The typical age range, Herzfeld said, for meth users is 20 to 50.
"It's easy to make, easy to get and the high lasts longer than cocaine."

A subculture, which participates in crime and prostitution in the
county, he said, has fed upon itself for the past 10 to 15 years.

When people become addicted, he said, "they pull other people in." "It
deteriorates a whole (segment) in the community."

"Meth destroys lives; it takes individuals and turns them into a black
hole. Everything becomes getting their next hit."

"The costs come in terms of real dollars, community safety and
security and in destruction of human capital."

Herzfeld said the campaign "is aimed at reaching out to the community
to let people know how serious the problem is, the signs to look for
in detecting both

manufacturing and abuse, and how they can help fight the meth
epidemic."

The campaign is funded through his federally-funded community
prosecution grant, which expires this year, Herzfeld noted.

"We felt that the best way to utilize the remaining resources in this
grant was to raise awareness about meth," he said, "which has taken
such a toll on our community.

"The actual idea came from the application for a different grant,
which we didn't receive.

"Our hope is to solicit donations and other funding to continue this
program through a variety of outlets including public access cable,
newspaper columns and other creative means of getting the message out
there."