Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) Copyright: 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051 Author: Sara Watson Arthurs, The Times-Standard METH USE HERE LEVELING OFF But Whole-Community Effort Still Needed, Says Task Force EUREKA -- Dealing with the methamphetamine problem in Humboldt County will take the whole community, county officials told the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. But one good sign is that meth use here seems to have leveled off. Craig Hill, senior program manager for the Department of Health and Human Services' Mental Health Dual Recovery Programs, also told supervisors that the number of people seeking treatment has gone up, which may mean that more people are seeking help. The supervisors held a study session on the Speed Prevention and Awareness Network, the county's methamphetamine task force. The task force was first created in 2001 and started up again in 2003 after a hiatus. It includes three subcommittees -- one focused on prevention of meth use, one on treatment options, and one on law enforcement. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that creates feelings of euphoria, followed by problems such as violent behavior, depression, insomnia and hallucinations, said Hill. He added that it can cause permanent damage to areas of the brain related to memory, depression and anxiety, as well as stroke-producing damage. And it's "rapidly addictive," said Helene Barney, program manager for the county's Mental Health Branch Dual Recovery Programs. The drug has multiple effects -- on families, on users' health and on the legal system, she said. Fifth District Supervisor Jill Geist added that the drug is cheap, which makes it appealing to users. But, she said, it's very toxic. Hill added that meth affects more than just its users. Families are destroyed when parents use meth, and children often end up taken from the home. In addition, the toxic chemicals used in meth manufacturing can cause major environmental damage, he said. When it comes to treatment, "We never have enough," Hill said. There is a waiting list for many programs. The good news is that there has been more education locally in recent months, he said. Public television station KEET-TV created two documentaries on the subject, and the meth task force's prevention committee has formed a speakers bureau. Mike Goldsby, program manager for health education in the county's Public Health Branch, said young people are particularly in need of prevention efforts. "Prevention now can ease a lot of suffering later," he said. Hill said he hopes to get more people involved in the fight against methamphetamine. "The task before us is challenging, but it's attainable," Hill said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine