Pubdate: Sun, 22 May 2005
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2005sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Author: Jessica L. Aberle

OTTAWA NOT TURNING BLIND EYE TO DRUG USE

Ottawa - Gearing up for what law enforcement calls the community's
biggest challenge, nearly 900 people stood and shouted repeatedly in
unison - "Not on our watch!"

The recent standing-room-only gathering at Ottawa Township High School
united an unlikely group focused on a single cause - waging a war on
heroin. Church leaders, police, prosecutors, educators, health care
providers, youth, city and business leaders and concerned community
members stood side by-side.

A 16-year-old addict told of her struggle. A recovered addict, turned
pastor prayed.

"I'm just proud of the community for coming together and not sticking
their heads in the sand," said Ottawa Mayor Robert Eschbach.

Law enforcement first started seeing the addictive morphine derivative
in 2003. By 2004 the drug had infested Ottawa and LaSalle County to
the point that residents began approaching Eschbach on the street and
expressing concerns about the drug's escalated use. If the stories
were true, he thought, something had to be done.

"I think we have to attack this from every level and every angle
possible. It's going to take a lot of energy on everybody's part,"
Eschbach said.

And what started with the mayor's anti-drug task force and the Ottawa
Parent Network support group, now has grown into the Illinois Valley
Anti-Drug coalition, a collaboration representing every aspect of the
community.

"Heroin is what got our attention," said Ottawa Pastor Brian Wangler,
who 20 years ago battled his own drug and alcohol addiction with the
help of God and a community of caring people. "(State's Attorney Joe)
Hettel said 40 percent of his cases were heroin related. A very large
percentage was under 20 years old. Crack and marijuana are doorways to
heroin. We don't differentiate when talking drug dealers, we're
talking all of it.

"We've got to put this fire out and then ask ourselves how did we get
here."

Banded together and Posted

Of the three community meetings sponsored by the mayor's anti-drug
task force, none drew a crowd like "Posted."

The faith community represented the latest group to join the fight and
brought large numbers of people and vast resources - not to mention
prayer - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

But there's more to it than that, said Wangler.

Posted stands for: Prayerfully committed, On call 24/7, Supporting in
prayer and practice those on the front line, Tuned in at my post,
Every family covered, Determined to effect healing.

Together, Wangler said, the faith community wants to support the
schools, police, health care providers and city leaders while watching
over their communities and children.

Nothing is more applicable in this situation than his favorite Bible
story Nehemiah, Wangler said. In the scripture people are trying to
rebuild a town and it collapses. Nehemiah's response was "We prayed
and posted a guard," Wangler quoted. "We posted them by family at the
exposed parts of the wall."

Tricia Reed, high school resource officer, mayor's task force member
and co-founder of the Ottawa Parent Network, was overwhelmed by the
enthusiasm of the meeting.

"Prayer does change things," Reed said. "(The) message about being
Posted, that's what's going to do it. When there are different groups
and people posted all over this town, that's how we're going to beat
this thing. That's how we are going to take these dealers down, one at
a time."

What Posted endeavors to do is send three clear messages.

First, to the faith community, a call to pray and post the guard. They
wear red bracelets that say "Posted," reminding them to be in
"constant prayer."

Every police officer receives a prayer partner who prays for them
constantly, Wangler said. "And then we've got to pray for the users,
pray for the dealers, pray for our own kids."

The second message is to all the people on the front line - teachers,
police, state's attorney, health-care workers, and educators, Wangler
said.

"Tell us what you need," Wangler said. "If you need help, if you need
volunteers, call us. If you need financial help call us."

Nearly 400 people signed up to pray and join various IVADC committees.
Posted gave more than $3,000 to the Ottawa Parent Network from selling
bracelets.

The third message goes to the drug dealers.

"And that message was: We care about you, we want and can help you,
come to us, we are here for you," Wangler said. "And then there's a
however."

"However, we will pray you clean, or we will pray you arrested,
convicted and jailed. What we are saying is not on our watch."

Youth and education

Robbie Hauge is a drug-free, 16-year-old junior at OTHS with an
agenda.

Hauge joined the youth committee that meets Tuesday mornings to talk
about getting heroin out of the schools.

"I have worked with someone who is a heroin addict. I know other
students who are heroin addicts. I'm in class with kids who are just
getting off their heroin addiction. It's not uncommon to be around
these people," said Hauge. "It could be anybody who's addicted to
heroin ... It's not stereotyping."

"I know that there is a heroin problem, I know that its been
increasing huge. I know of a lot of people that do drugs," Hauge said,
then added, "My biggest fear is that my little sister will get
involved in this."

About 20 students attend the weekly meetings that are open to the
1,200-member student body.

"If maybe we get this group together and you hear from your peers that
it's not just your elders telling you not to do drugs that there's
just no point to it," Hauge said, "Then we'll be able to get through
to them better."

Jessica, an 18-year-old addict and senior at OTHS,
agrees.

Educating youth about the ill effects, the life-long effects of
heroin, before they ever try the drug is a must, Jessica said,
suggesting a panel of youth to talk about their struggles.

First-time users don't believe they can get sick from heroin, she
said. "At night you can't sleep. I'd be sweating and at the same time
I'd have goose bumps all on me and freezing. Then there's puking and
diarrhea. Some people can't move their arms and legs. ... That day I
was dope sick I thought I was seriously going to die."

The message, Mayor Eschbach said, is very simple. The truth must be
told.

"You've got to know what's going to happen to you before you make the
decision," he said. "People have to make informed decisions ... and
there's just not an upside to heroin use."

Parent Network co-founder Jeff Nugent said community support and
collaboration between the public, police, church, schools, youth and
parents all must fall into place to "stop the drug problem in Ottawa."

"The last death that I know of is a 15-year-old morphine overdose,"
Nugent said. "That same weekend two 16 year olds nearly died of a
heroine overdose."

Nugent said the coalition struggled immediately with people pointing
fingers.

"What we've tried to focus on is having people step up and say, OK,
what do the police need. That's what it's going to take is people
stepping up and helping each other instead of pointing fingers."

Gathering resources

Part of the community's struggle lies in a lack of nearby
rehabilitation and treatment options. And then when the addict
graduates from rehab, there's a lack of support groups to keep them on
track.

Nugent said these things are coming. For example, Ottawa Community
Hospital does not have in-patient drug rehab facilities, but they can
refer clients to different treatment centers and then offer
out-patient services upon their return to the community.

Posted has started a teen-oriented support group with a goal to offer
a meeting every day. "So when those kids get out they immediately have
somewhere to go."

A 90-day prayer strategy also is under way, but Wangler warned it
can't end there. "When heroin goes away, another ugly demon will rear
its head."

Three 24-hour prayer vigils are scheduled at a downtown church, 807
LaSalle St. in Ottawa. The first begins at 6 p.m. June 10. People can
sign up to cover a period of time. A search light in front of the
building will symbolically show the community what is happening.

Billboards along the four main entrances to Ottawa warn: "Posted. DRUG
DEALERS: You are entering a community where the people of faith have
banned together to pray you out of business. We're watching. We're
praying. We're involved."

Kim Czyz, an assistant to the mayor, said the Parent Network and IVADC
already have begun talks with surrounding communities to expand
efforts there. Dealers and users, once removed from Ottawa, will go
somewhere, Czyz said, adding surrounding communities needed to be prepared.

Said Wangler: "My prayer is that the day will come,
that the drug dealers will say, send me anywhere, but
don't send me to Ottawa."
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MAP posted-by: Derek