LOCAL RESIDENTS LEARN THAT METH RECOVERY IS NOT A QUICK FIX

CLINTON - Residents around Sampson County are becoming increasingly
aware of just how destructive methamphetamine has become in their own
communities and have engaged in a renewed effort toward solutions to
combat the significantly strong hold of meth addiction.

"It was sobering," said the Rev. Cory Oliver, pastor at Epworth United
Methodist Church.

He said that it was most shocking to hear just how much time it takes
for a meth user to recover from addiction, taking between 12 to 18
months after usage is stopped before neurotransmitters in the brain
damaged by meth can heal.

"It's not just a quick fix," Oliver affirmed.

Oliver said that law enforcement, the faith-based community and
residents across Sampson are going to have to come together with the
awareness they have built and work toward reaching out to addicts.

"We're going to have to have the total community," said Oliver. "It's
not about passing the buck."

Dr. Mary Holley, a nationally recognized authority on meth and founder
and director of Mothers Against Meth-Amphetamine recently visited with
officials, medical personnel, students and other residents of Sampson
County, sharing real solutions for the problem of meth.

Holley, a practicing OBGYN in Alabama for 15 years, closed her
practice in 2005 to devote herself fully to MAMA. After losing her
brother to crystal methamphetamine in July 2000, she spent a great
deal of her time researching meth from a variety of different
viewpoints - as a physician, a scientist and as a surviving family
member.

In various presentations last week, she imparted to residents of
Sampson and surrounding counties that meth was everyone's problem.

Dr. Carl Barr, Sampson County Medical Examiner, recently joined the
Sampson County Meth Task Force, which, along with Star Telephone
Membership Corporation and Hobbton High School, brought Holley to the
county.

He said that meth, and the problems its use poses, is unlike any other
illness or ailment that doctors and nurses are confronted with on a
daily basis.

"I think that our society depends on medical professionals to cure
their illnesses," said Barr, "but this is a type of illness where we
can't do it alone."

The county medical examiner said he felt the whole medical profession
needed to open up and realize that meth was not something that can be
fixed in a matter of days.

"Physicians have relied on quick fixes," said Barr. "This is not a
problem that a quick fix can solve."

Ken Jones, director of Eastpointe Mental Health, said that he was
thoroughly impressed with the program offered by Holley.

"It was great," Jones said. "It'll be good to have the same
presentation every year."

Barr said that is was very important to get the information to
children, so they can become aware of the dangers of meth and future
use can be headed off at an early age.

"It's an extremely disconcerting kind of problem in many ways," said
Barr. "It's destroying society. We don't have enough jails and that's
not the solution. We have to do it in concert with faith-based efforts
and all walks of life. This is a disease."

Jones said that the work of Eastpointe, he said, has been to
concentrate on meth prevention. They are currently looking toward
identifying more intensive, long-term programs through which those who
need help can receive the assistance they need in their recovery.

"This is something where it is an ounce of prevention equals a pound
of cure," Jones remarked. "The problem is so big and it's so easy to
get hooked on this stuff and have it take over a year of your life."

Many agreed that the problem of meth addiction was one that required
patience and could not be overcome overnight. It takes time, as Holley
said.

"It's a long journey with a lot of obstacles," said J.W.
Simmons.

The first was the realization by those confronted with meth users that
what they are seeing and dealing with is in fact a disease that causes
drastic negative effects to the brain.

Clinton police Chief Mike Brim, who attended a Tuesday luncheon at
which Holley gave one of her many talks, said that her message "helps
you understand" the addiction of meth. Many are quick to judge meth
addicts, when what they are really dealing with is a brain disease,
Brim said.

"It's a degenerative brain disease and these people need help because
they can't help themselves," said Brim, who called Holley's
presentation "impressive."

"We're tickled to death to see clergy and residents our here," added
Clinton police Sgt. Tim King following a seminar by Holley on
Wednesday. He said that Holley's message of meth being everyone's
responsibility was a point well made.

King said that, since hearing Holley's presentations, several people
have approached him about problems that they have had with friends or
loved ones - problems they now realize may be meth-related.

"It's opened their eyes," he said. "That's more eyes and ears we have
in the county. It's going straight to the root of the problem."

Like King, Sarah Bradshaw, director for the Department of Social
Services in Sampson, said that she and others with the Meth Task Force
have talked with community residents who now believe they may be faced
with similar problems regarding meth.

Bradshaw attended each of Holley's talks, including the two public
seminars, as well as a visit with medical professionals at Sampson
Regional Medical Center and a presentation to students and staff at
Hobbton High School.

"I've been to every one of these," she said. "They were absolutely a
success for our community."

Bradshaw said the talks have been "right on target" with what the
message the Task Force has delivered, building on it and furthering
the ultimate goal of prevention and intervention to help meth users,
an aim for which its members have striven since the Task Force was
established.

And the wide range of attendees at Holley's various presentations,
from students to teachers, doctors to law enforcement officers, have
taken away so much as a result.

"They have just really gotten a lot out of what she said," Bradshaw
noted. "I could just see some of the doors open."