OMAHA POLICE OFFICER, FOUNDER OF DRUG TRAINING PROGRAM, TO SPEAK IN MADISON

Omaha police officer Chuck Matson has seen what drug use can do to
individuals and their families. That's why about nine years ago, he
created the nonprofit training program called Recognizing Impairing
Drugs so he could take his message about the dangers of drug use to
the public.

On Jan. 30, Matson will bring that message to Madison as part of a
program sponsored by Madison Central School District's Safe and Drug-
Free Schools Advisory Board.

"In law enforcement, you see how much of our work is tied to drug use
- - not just dealing, but the great majority of domestic violence,
child abuse, child neglect and homicide (cases)...so much of it is
tied into drug use," he told the Daily Leader in a telephone interview.

During his presentation, Matson, a 19-year veteran of the Omaha Police
Department, will talk to community members about the signs and
symptoms of methamphetamine use and "club drugs" like Ecstasy and GHB
(the "date rape drug").

"Drug use is not just an urban problem," said Matson, who averages
75-100 presentations a year when he is off duty. "The way society
works now, drugs are attainable anywhere."

He said that methamphetamine, which can be made with common household
products, can easily be made with the help of instructions often found
on the Internet.

"I think it (the presentation) is eye-opening for them," he said when
asked what kinds of comments he has received from parents in other
communities. "Parents and caregivers...it's necessary to speak to your
kids about drugs."

Diana Larson, a guidance counselor at Madison High School, said the
reason why Matson was asked to speak to community members was to
inform adults about the changing world of drugs so they can speak to
their children.

"I would like every community member to be knowledgeable in this area.
That's how we're going to make healthy choices and help our children
make healthy choices," said Larson. "You may not have grandchildren or
children in the system, but we still live in a community that could
experience the ill effects of drug use. We all need to be educated to
prevent that from happening."

Matson is a certified instructor of the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Drug Evaluation and Classification Program. As a
member of a select group of nationally certified Drug Recognition
Expert Instructors, he has provided training for law enforcement
officers, schools, government agencies, medical personnel and
businesses in reliable techniques of evaluating those who display
signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug impairment.

His talk in Madison will begin at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30 and will be held
in the MHS auditorium. Representatives from area agencies and the
Madison Police Department will be available after the presentation to
field questions.

The night is open to the public.