COMMUNITY FORMS COALITION TO FIGHT METH

By Barbara Dunn Lt. Col. Robert W. Murphy, with the Tennessee National Guard
Counter Drug Division, met with community representatives last week to
discuss forming a community coalition against drugs.

"I am here to share ideas and opportunities," said Murphy, "and to address
issues that you have perceived to be present in your community."

This was the second such meeting with National Guard representatives. Last
month, two Guard officers gave a 'Meth Awareness' presentation to
representatives from almost every organization in Johnson County.

These meetings are the beginning of an effort by the National Guard to study
drug use in Tennessee, and they have initiated their first efforts [under a
federal grant] in Johnson County. For the next year, the Guard will help to
implement available programs, and will follow the impact to the county for
the next two years.

"Drug production and use is an ever-increasing problem in Tennessee," said
Murphy. "Last year there were more than 800 meth labs taken down, and 600
children were removed from homes where there was production or sale of
drugs.

"The problem creates a burden for every department in state government.

"Across the nation, states with a strong network of community coalitions
have been more successful in fighting drugs."

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) is a national organization
with 5,000 community coalition members nationwide, 31 of which are located
in Tennessee.

CADCA's mission is ".to build and strengthen the capacity of community
coalitions to create safe, healthy and drug-free communities. The
organization supports its members with technical assistance and training,
public policy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences and
special events.

"Community coalitions are in the position to connect multiple sectors of the
community, including businesses, parents, media, law enforcement, schools,
faith organizations, health providers, social service agencies, and the
government. By acting in concert through the coalition, all of the partners
gain a more complete understanding of the community's problems. Together,
the partners organize and develop plans and programs to coordinate their
anti-drug efforts. The result is a comprehensive, community-wide approach to
substance abuse and its related problems."

Murphy said the more diverse a coalition, the better off they are.

"The drug problem can't be arrested away; you can't teach it away and you
can't pray it away," said Murphy. "But if you have a coalition consisting of
representatives from all sectors of the community, you can address the
problem from multiple directions."

Murphy urged those present to contact the people in position to help form a
coalition.

"Think about who influences other people and get them on your side. There is
funding available but you first must form a coalition.

"The National Guard believes in this method," said Murphy. "So much so that
we will pay your CADCA dues for the first year, once you form your
coalition."

A CADCA press release gives a positive outlook for this effort.

"Local coalitions are making a unique contribution by developing community
wide strategies that combine federal funding, including Drug-Free
Communities, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, State Incentive
Grants, and State Block Grants," said Jane Callahan, Director of CADCA's
Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute.

As the Guard officers at last month's meeting said, "To combat this problem,
the community as a whole will have to participate. We aren't here to do it
for you, but to help and support you in your efforts. We aren't here to give
this presentation and then leave. We will be here for an entire year."

Jean Ann Savery is responsible for beginning the anti-drug campaign.

"As a community, we have to act as one," says Savery. "The answer will be
people talking to other people and bringing things together. We need to
listen, to learn, to set our short and long-term goals and plan what we need
to do."

The next meeting has been set for Wednesday March 31, at 10 a.m. in the Safe
Schools office (in the second modular building beside Old Shouns Elementary
School on Hwy 421S)..

"At the next meeting, we will be deciding on a name for the coalition and
establishing bylaws and committees," said Savery. "If anyone is interested,
please make an effort to attend this meeting and invite anyone who might be
willing to serve on the coalition.

"We can help fight this problem but it will take everyone working together.
It's like the answer to the question, 'how do you eat an elephant?' You take
one bite at a time."