Pubdate: Wed, 04 Feb 2004
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2004 The Huntsville Times
Contact:  http://www.htimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Author: Wendy Reeves
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

PARENTS DESCRIBE CHILDREN'S METH ADDICTIONS

About 60 Attend Local Forum To Discuss Drug Abuse Problems

A father who wants to help his 25-year-old son get off the addictive drug 
methamphetamine "because he's worth saving."

A mother who has sought advice from everywhere she can think of to help her 
34-year-old son who is addicted to meth.

The two parents said they are from families who have spent thousands of 
dollars trying to help their children and endured countless sleepless nights.

Their cases were among those described Tuesday night at the first of four 
forums called "Don't Meth Around" being held in Madison County this month. 
About 60 people showed up for the forum at the Huntsville-Madison County 
Public Library on Monroe Street.

A panel of local medical and law enforcement experts discussed the 
increasing manufacture and use in the area of the highly addictive drug.

The father was told there is a source for treatment for his son, who is 
willing to seek help. He wants to see treatment programs that last longer 
than 10 to 13 days.

"That's not long enough," said the father.

The mother was told her son most likely is unwilling to seek help and will 
have to "hit rock bottom" before he can be helped.

Even a lawyer had already told her that, she said. She just wanted as many 
opinions as she could get. People in the crowd sat with intense looks as 
investigators told them that in 2001 two meth labs were found in the county.

In the last six months of 2003 between 25 and 30 meth labs were found. 
Before the end of this year, the number of labs found here is likely to 
reach between 60 and 100, authorities said.

"It's all over the place," said F.J. Harnen of the federal Drug Enforcement 
Administration. "No one is immune. Meth is here."

It's not found just in rural areas, Harnen said. Several labs have been 
found near downtown Huntsville. "It's already a big problem," he said. 
"It's going to be an increasing problem."

Three more free forums are planned this month:

Thursday, Feb. 12 - New Hope High School, 5216 Main Drive, New Hope.

Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Bob Jones High School, 650 Hughes Road, Madison.

Tuesday, Feb. 24 - Dr. Richard Showers Sr. Recreation Center, 4600 Blue 
Spring Road, Huntsville.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom