MEETING ADDRESSES DRUGS

Concerned parents, teachers, students and citizens of Crossville turned out
Thursday night to hear professional speakers address the area's drug problem.

The drug awareness town meeting was sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug
Free DeKalb, Project CHANGE, school resource officers and Operation Save Teens.

DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney Ben Baxley addressed the issue of
drug-related crime. Baxley said drug use and crimes related to it, such as
forgery and theft, cause insurance premiums and bank service charges to
rise, affecting everyone in the community.

Baxley said crystal methamphetamine is one the most dangerous drugs law
enforcement has ever dealt with, due to the danger of manufacturing the
drug. Meth is manufactured with extremely combustible materials, making
explosions of labs a great danger.

Baxley said meth is also dangerous because of the ease with which it can be
manufactured.

"Most cocaine and crack are manufactured in other countries, but meth can
be cooked with chemicals you can buy at Wal-Mart," said Baxley.

Baxley said he went out one day to see how easily and inexpensively the
materials could be purchased. He said the total price for all of the
chemicals needed for the manufacturing of meth was $38.70.

Baxley said the county is making an effort to educate local merchants about
methamphetamine manufacturing. The program, known as Merchants Against
Methamphetamine, allows merchants to call with information about purchases
of large quantities of materials used in the manufacturing of meth.

Baxley pointed out the number of labs busted in DeKalb County has doubled
since each year since the first lab was discovered in 1998.

"It's a growing problem we all need to be aware of," said Baxley.

Cynthia "Pie" Evans, a certified registered nurse practitioner with the
Partnership for a Drug Free DeKalb, said meth affects three areas of the
brain which control emotion, sensation and movement and release of
dopamine. She said long-term meth users often experience rage, paranoia,
facial ticks, seizures and twitches.

"The brain is so affected by the drug, it is impossible to reach a high
like the first one," said Evans. "Users can never get back to feeling normal."

Evans said a high from crystal meth lasts much longer than a high from any
drug; however, the crash lasts even longer.

"Research has shown three out of 10 people would be addicted from one hit
of meth," Evans said.

Evans warned parents there are genetic predispositions to drug use and
addiction.

"If you have alcoholics in your family, be careful with your children," she
advised.

Evans said if the trend continues, she fears in 10 years, nursing homes
will be full of young people who can no longer function due to the
permanent damage caused by meth use.

Mike Reese, an agent with the ABC Board who is associated with Operation
Save Teens, began his presentation with a videos showing several disturbing
images of teenagers who had died while using drugs including GHB, more
commonly known as the "date rape drug."

Reese said these tactics are sometimes criticized for being too scary, but
he said that's the point.

"I want to scare kids because they don't understand the addictive nature of
drugs," said Reese. "I want to scare the parents because it all starts at
home."

Reese said it's no longer the "bad kids" who are using drugs.

"Young, good kids are using now. Football players and cheerleaders are
starting to use drugs," Reese said. Reese encouraged parents to watch their
children closely for any warning signs of drug use.

"Know where your kids are going, who they're going with and who their
parents are," Reese advised. "Have the heart and have the guts as a parent
to be strong enough to do the right thing."

Richard Nickerson, Gadsden Deputy Police Chief, presented information about
Satanic and Gothic cults and rituals. Nickerson said satanism is a legal
religion, with 95 percent of all satanist activity being legal and
legitimate. He also said it is the fastest growing religion in the United
States, with the Satanic Bible outselling any book in the world, including
the Holy Bible.

"Ninety-five percent of kids involved with Satanism are 'dabblers,' but
it's the other five percent we worry about," said Nickerson.

Nickerson said information about Satanism is readily available over the
Internet.

"Parents have to be careful with what their children are getting off of the
Internet," Nickerson said.

Nickerson said there have been 11 "human sacrifice" murders linked to
Satanism over the last 10 years and many Satanists are heavily involved in
drug use. He also pointed out that with every school shooting except one,
there have been Satanic items found in the shooter's personal space,
whether it was his room or his locker.

"As Christians, we constantly hear 'Thou shalt not.' With Satanism, the
main message is 'Thou shall.' That's the draw for kids. Nothing is
forbidden," Nickerson said.

Nickerson said parents should watch for things such as altars, ceremonial
daggers, chalices, candles, ritual circles and Satanic images such as
inverted pentagrams and 666 symbols.

Nickerson pointed out not every child who comes home wearing black clothes
and fingernails is involved with Satanism, but it may be a sign they are
leaning towards it.