Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2004
Source: Oak Ridger (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Oak Ridger
Contact:  http://www.oakridger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1146
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

EXPERTS DISCUSS METH WITH CITIZENS

At Roane State Community College Tuesday, students, day care owners, 
teachers concerned citizens and many city and county officials filled the 
City Room to capacity to hear a panel of professionals discuss the dangers 
of methamphetamine. Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge sponsored the 
program which featured representatives from the Anderson County Sheriff's 
Department, MMC's emergency room, Anderson County schools and the Quality 
Childcare Initiative.

Members of the Tennessee National Guard brought its drug information 
trailer for inspection.

The program was a question and answer session and was geared toward 
methamphetamine manufacture and its dangers to society and the environment.

Questions ranged from how the drug is made to the legal aspects of how to 
keep people who make the illegal drug in jail. John Heffner, MMC, discussed 
some of the medical dangers of the ingestion of meth including heart 
damage, seizures and hypothermic crisis. He said no studies have been made 
to evaluate how toxic fumes from the chemicals used in the process of meth 
affect those who come in contact with them.

Monica Mowdy, Quality Childcare Initiative, told the audience that rental 
property where meth is being made are now tagged by the county register of 
deeds as hazardous dump sites.

Many of the questions from the audience were legal questions and were not 
answered by the panel. Those questions were related to bonds for arrested 
persons and why the same people are arrested for second and third times 
while out on bond.

Mowdy discussed issues about children taken from homes and how their lives 
change, and if they may suffer from medical problems as they grow. She also 
discussed "tweaking," the act of staying awake for hours or days while on 
meth, some of the other signs of abuse and the long-term affects on the 
abuser's health.

David Allred, schools, said that the schools' position is prevention. He 
said only 2 or 3 percent of students will bring drugs to school and school 
personnel catches about 1 out of 4 students who try.

Sgt. Kent Brown, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, said the ease of 
manufacturing is one of the biggest concerns locally. He said the 
ingredients to make meth are not illegal and people can learn the process 
of making with access to the Internet.

The program lasted about an hour. Many who attended toured the National 
Guard trailer, where several types of drugs and drug paraphernalia were 
displayed.
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