Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
Source: Grand Island Independent (NE)
Copyright: 2001 Grand Island Independent
Contact:  http://www.theindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1023
Author: Mike Bockoven

METH FORUM BRINGS THE PROBLEM INTO FOCUS

Groups Seek Strategy To Deal With Drug Abuse

With a recent rise in the number of methamphetamine-related crimes in rural 
areas, 3rd District U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne said, there's hardly a person in 
Nebraska who's not touched by the problem.

So the Osborne-organized Summit to Combat Methamphetamine, which was on 
Monday morning in Grand Island, brought together members of more than 20 
organizations to help organize a strategy for dealing with the problem.

"Over the years, I've become more and more alarmed on the issue of 
methamphetamine," Osborne said. "Statistics say that, for every one person 
addicted to methamphetamine, there are 63 crimes committed. It has a huge 
consequence for other people, not just those addicted."

Present at the conference, which was closed to the public, were members of 
law enforcement, the court system, the medical community, the FBI and those 
who deal with rehabilitation.

The result, Osborne said, was a complete picture of the meth problem in the 
state and, with it, a better idea of how to address the problem.

"We really had a great group of people here," he said. "The reason is 
because it's a large problem. What we need to do now is focus on coming up 
with a comprehensive approach."

Among the topics discussed, Osborne said, were prevention and education; 
local, state and federal law enforcement tactics; prosecution and 
treatment; and coordination between all sectors.

Participants came from across the state and even out of state to address 
the problem. Those who attended the conference included Jim Redd of the 
federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Lincoln, Sheldon Burkett of the 
Drug Enforcement Administration in Alexandria, Va., and Brenda Miner and 
Steve Jensen of St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.

Hall County Sheriff Jerry Watson, who attended the event on behalf of the 
Nebraska Drug Courts, said the conference was a step in the right direction 
in terms of developing a comprehensive plan, and he thanked Osborne for 
organizing it.

"I think the information Congressman Osborne got out of this gives him the 
tools to build the vehicle which will allow for us to do our job more 
effectively," Watson said. "It's not always about money. Often it's about 
communication."

Watson also said that, among the things agreed upon at the conference, the 
need for family was viewed as an effective way to battle meth and, indeed, 
all drug addiction.

"Where this whole thing starts is with the family," Watson said. "We need 
to look for a way to solicit the family back into existence, and many of 
these problems will go away."

Osborne also said there was a near consensus on the need for more money to 
create labs to analyze the drugs and equipment and personnel to help 
enforce laws.

However, he said, communication was something of which all forces in the 
fight against methamphetamine need more.

"We felt there was a lot of information," he said. "The whole thing is 
going to be in the follow through. If we're able to communicate, we can 
help this situation."
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