Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jan 2006
Source: Sampson Independent, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006, The Sampson Independent
Contact:  http://www.clintonnc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1704
Author: Chris Berendt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

INCREASE IN METH USE BRINGS SUMMIT TO CLINTON

In an ever-increasing effort to make the public aware of the adverse
effects the use of methamphetamine brings and the inherent dangers
associated with the drug, several local groups in Sampson County have
joined together in organizing an educational and informational summit
to be held in January.

The summit, sponsored by the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce,
Sampson County Methamphetamine Task Force and Star Telephone, will
include several expert speakers who will talk about the various facets
of meth use and the vast social, environmental and economic impact it
has on individuals, their families and the community as a whole.

People scheduled to speak at the summit include State Attorney General
Roy Cooper, Detective Jason Greillner with the Franklin County
Sheriff's Department in Union, Missouri, Dan Heinz, instructor
coordinator at the N.C. Justice Academy, and L. Worth Bolton, clinical
instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work.

The speakers will approach the subject from different perspectives,
while also touching on many of the same key points concerning the
dangers of meth.

Keynote speaker Cooper will focus on what the state has done in the
battle to combat the use and manufacture of meth, especially in the
form of a new North Carolina law restricting the sale of
pseudoephedrine products, critical to the manufacture of meth, that
will become effective on Jan. 15.

Greillner will share his experiences from a state that uncovered 2,500
meth labs in the past year, in a presentation entitled "Lessons
Learned." Missouri has been far and away the leader in the number of
meth labs discovered in the United States in the last year, having
more than double the number of the next state.

Heinz is certified in hazardous materials and electric devices,
involved in training narcotics officers and qualified to speak to
others in meth recognition and response courses. He has more than 100
hours of advanced meth training, which has taken him throughout the
country. He will speak on the environmental impacts of meth and the
impact it has on industry and local business.

Bolton, a noted family advocate, will speak about the devastation of
meth on families and the community in a presentation entitled
"Effective Treatment Models for Meth Affected Families."

J.W. Simmons, a member of the Sampson County Meth Task Force, said
that the task force has been aggressive in promoting awareness of the
dangers of meth use. The summit will reinforce the importance of that
awareness and also address the impact on families and the
rehabilitation and referral opportunities available for users to
receive help.

Sarah Bradshaw, director of the Sampson County Division of Social
Services and a member of the Meth Task force, said that organizers
were also planning on having a recovering addict speak at the summit.
The addict will be able to give a firsthand account of experiences and
testify to the destructive nature of the drug.

Three out of four parents that come through DSS are "abusing a
substance of some sort," whether it be meth, marijuana, cocaine or
another drug, said Bradshaw.

Bradshaw said that DSS has not had to deal with a situation in which a
child was hurt due to toxic meth labs or lab explosions, but that
there have been situations in which children had to be removed from
homes where an active meth lab was present - so that potential did
exist.

"A lot (of people) are still in the dark," said Bradshaw, "Those that
aren't, they still need to hear more about it. We're in an area ripe
for the manufacture of meth."

Bradshaw said that the efforts of the task force have resulted in
increased awareness, but that there were still sections of the public
that needed to be reached. Businesses, schools, and organizations,
whether in the public or private sector, need to be aware, she said.

"We need them to be aware of meth," said Bradshaw. "We need to
increase awareness for everyone."

And the effort is not meant to be restricted to just Sampson County.
People from surrounding counties are invited, including those from
Bladen, Lenoir, Duplin and Wayne counties.

"We want to hit everyone with this," said Bradshaw. "We want to put
this out here as an opportunity to neighboring counties to join us in
this effort."

The summit will be held from 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.
25.

"We're excited about the 25th," said Simmons. "We're looking forward
to this as a major awareness piece in what the task force has been
working toward."

For more information on meth and to read or offer testimonials on the
drug, visit the Sampson County Meth Task Force Web site,
www.methdeath.org.

Those wishing to register for the summit can download the registration
form from the Task Force Web site and are encouraged to return it to
the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13.
Also, those interested in scheduling a program on meth for a church,
civic or community group can contact J.W. Simmons   .
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake