Pubdate: Sat, 05 Nov 2005
Source: Albert Lea Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2005 Albert Lea Tribune Inc.
Contact:  http://www.albertleatribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3521
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

COLEMAN IN TOWN TO DISCUSS METH IMPACT

Sen. Norm Coleman was in town Friday for a listening session to discuss the 
impact of methamphetamine on Minnesota communities.

"We're here today to talk about an issue of great importance to our 
community and to our state," Coleman said. "The nature of the drug is 
devastating, on the individuals who get addicted and on the communities 
that have to deal with it. It is overwhelming and we have to do something 
about it.

"I want to listen twice as much as I speak today," he said.

Approximately 60 people filled the council chambers at the Albert Lea City 
Center for the discussion. Coleman heard from panelists representing the 
areas of drug treatment, education, prevention, intervention and law 
enforcement. He also heard from the audience.

The panel included: Steve Hubbard, president of the Sheriff's Youth 
Program; Jerry Ehn, administrator, Fountain Center of Albert Lea; Jim 
Siegel, president, United Way of Freeborn County Board of Directors; Trish 
Reedstrom, supervisor, Blue Earth County Social Services; Corey Farris, 
Freeborn County Sheriff's Office and South Central Drug Investigation Unit; 
Bobby, a recovering meth addict; and Rep. Dan Dorman (27-A).

Siegel talked about the Meth equals Death Task Force started by the United 
Way, an effort Coleman said he was impressed with.

"We have done a few things and we've done them successfully, we have worked 
hard," he said. "We have a group that has been working towards educating 
people, because if we can educate enough people then maybe someone will not 
try it. We have been meeting with anyone that will listen to us. We have 
billboards in town in hopes they will get someone's attention. We have 
literature in the United Way office, and in January we will be having Meth 
Sunday and Meth Week where the entire concentration will be directed toward 
meth education. Yes, we will be preaching to the choir, but someone in the 
choir might know someone who is using.

"I've heard many sad stories, they are all sad stories and they need to be 
told, that is another way to educate the public, but we need to move beyond 
stories, we need to do something," he said.

The United Way's task force should be a national model, said Coleman.

"I'm pleased they've started this because it can't be the folks on the 
front line alone, the government folks alone," he said.

Reedstrom, also a member of the Blue Earth County Drug Court team, spoke 
about the effectiveness of the team.

"It is a real intensive treatment program, instead of going to prison or to 
jail, they volunteer to go into drug court," she said. "The team meets with 
the judge to help him know what to do. The judge can provide incentives or 
sanctions depending on whether the person is doing well or not doing well. 
It is a really intensive program, particularly for the probation officer.

The drug court is less than a year old, but Reedstrom said they are seeing 
some improvements.

"We think the promise is there because of some of the early success we are 
seeing," she said.

After the panel's discussion was done Coleman opened up discussion to 
members of the audience, which included community leaders, city and county 
officials, Albert Lea School District 241 representatives, Albert Lea 
Medical Center representatives, representatives from Olmsted, Blue Earth 
and Mower counties, Riverland Community College representatives, members of 
the Meth equals Death Task Force, as well as Rep. Jean Poppe (27-B).

Coleman is traveling around the state of Minnesota hosting listening 
sessions to gather information on how meth is affecting the state's 
communities which he will take back to Washington, D.C.

"I'm going to take this information back to my colleagues, we are going to 
have a forum in Washington with Senators from Missouri and Iowa, and I'll 
be bringing the Minnesota stories that I've heard and will continue to 
hear," he said. "Then we are going to hold a regional forum on a national 
stage. In private discussions amongst Senators they are telling me about 
these problems their states are having with meth and all of a sudden we 
realize that it is not just us, it is all over the country."

The Senate recently approved a bill coauthored by Coleman called the Combat 
Meth Act of 2005. The bill requires cold medicines containing meth-making 
ingredients to be stored behind the counter and limits the amount a person 
can buy in a single purchase, creates a national meth treatment center, and 
authorizes $43 million for meth enforcement, training and research.

In September, Coleman unveiled the Coleman Meth Task Force, a group 
comprised of law enforcement officials, treatment workers, health care 
professionals, school nurses and other concerned citizens.

Neil Chalmers, a social studies teacher at Albert Lea High School and the 
mock trial coach, came to the listening session because he wanted to hear 
what Coleman and the others had to say.

"We've had some education at school and I truly wanted to hear what the 
Senator's views were and what everyone was going to say," he said. "The 
most impressive speaker was Bobby. He had the most to offer us in terms of 
understanding this drug and its effects."
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