Pubdate: Tue, 17 Oct 2006
Source: Greeley Tribune (CO)
Copyright: 2006 Greeley Tribune
Contact:  http://www.greeleytrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3165
Author: Joanna Larez
Note: Typically publishes LTEs from circulation area only

OFFICIALS DISCUSS GROWING PROBLEM OF METH USE AT  REGIONAL
SUMMIT

Multiple, easily-accessible chemicals melded into one  substance has 
created a drug of choice that has led to  many social problems.

The problem of methamphetamine use has become so large  in the region 
that its abuse prompted leaders from Weld  and Larimer counties to 
gather Monday at The Ranch in  Loveland to discuss the problem of the 
drug's abuse in  northern Colorado.

About 70 people participated in the day-long  brainstorming session. 
State, county and city  government officials, law enforcement 
representatives  and people from local treatment centers in both 
counties joined the discussions.

John Horton, associate deputy director for state and  local affairs 
in the White House Office of National  Drug Control Policy, spoke 
early in the meeting about  the national problem. He said local 
governments need to  lead the way in tackling the problem and he 
applauded Colorado's laws that make it more difficult to 
purchase  ingredients used for the drug.

Experts talked about the drug problem that is  correlated with child 
abuse and neglect. More  information about the addictive drug set a 
solemn tone  at the meeting.

Deb Hill, a drug and alcohol counselor at Island Grove  Regional 
Treatment Center in Greeley, spoke about the  day she discovered 
meth. The day before she graduated  high school, one of her cousins 
shared the drug with  her.

"As soon as I used that first line I knew that things  were going to 
change," Hill said.

But things didn't change immediately. Hill said she  found a 
substance that gave her a surge of energy and  empowered her when she 
was uncomfortable.

"Methamphetamine worked for me," Hill said. "I used it  for the 
weekend and stopped in time to go to work."

Eventually she used the drug during the week and  couldn't hold a 
steady job. Hill said she ended up in a  homeless shelter with a 
6-month-old child and  eventually gave birth to her third child who 
was born  affected by the drug.

But all was not lost.

"We do recover," Hill said. "We become responsible,  productive, 
loving parents."

That message hit Scoot Crandall, executive director of  TEAM Fort Collins.

"I came here with the idea that there's no such thing  as a 
recovering meth addict, but that's not true,"  Crandall said.

Local leaders shared ideas about how to prevent,  intervene and treat 
addictions. Possible partnerships  could develop in the future.

"There was good dialogue," said Weld County  Commissioner Dave Long. 
"That's always the beginning  step. Everybody had open minds. Now we 
just have to  draw on what the positive ideas are."

The steering committee that organized the meeting now  has the 
opportunity to review ideas and continue  discussions that could lead 
to partnerships in the  efforts to fight meth addiction.

Percentage of patients admitted at Island Grove  Regional Treatment 
Center who admitted using meth:

* Increased from 14 percent to 21 percent between 2003  and 2005 in Weld County

* Increased from 16 percent to 30.5 percent between  2003 and 2005 in 
Larimer County
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MAP posted-by: Elaine