Pubdate: Fri, 28 Sep 2007
Source: Tribune, The (Greeley, CO)
Copyright: 2007sThe Greeley Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.greeleytrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3165
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Note: typically publishes LTEs from circulation area only

TAKE METH ADDICTION SERIOUSLY

No one would have blamed Bob Boswell for sending  Jennifer Henessee up
the river. She stole cash from his  restaurant, frightened his
employees and threw a pretty  good scare into him, as well. After all,
the restaurant  is his business, his livelihood.

Who wouldn't want to lock up someone like that, throw  away the key
and say good riddance?

But instead of hatred, Boswell saw desperation in  Henessee's eyes. He
knew she needed help instead of a  jail sentence, and he called Weld
District Attorney Ken  Buck and wondered if there was anything he
could do to  help her.

It turns out there was. She's the first person in the  In-Custody
Alternative Placement Program, which kept  her out of jail and gave
her a chance to turn her life  around with a new baby, due next month.
Buck referred  her to Island Grove Regional Treatment Center through
the in-custody program, and she's in the midst of many  weeks of
outpatient recovery after a stint in the  inpatient program.

This program is a part of the new ways to combat  methamphetamine
addiction from the Island Grove  Regional Treatment Center, and
they're still  desperately needed. In Weld County, 860 individuals
admitted to a meth addiction in 2005 and 650 in 2006,  and officials
believe there are many more out there,  given that people aren't
exactly marching up to admit  they're addicted unless they're caught
by police.

Meth could be the most addictive drug out there, an  affordable
temptation that hooks some people the first  time they use it, and
finding an effective treatment  for it can be frustrating.

We're pleased that Island Grove is willing to put its  resources into
a new program that shows promise of  working. The new Matrix Model is
a 32-week program.  It's longer than other programs, involves families
and  has a system to make sure the recovering addicts attend  any
court dates.

It seems to us that this is exactly what Weld needs to  combat the
problem. Island Grove is showing that  officials there are taking the
drug seriously.

As for Boswell, instead of seeking out some personal  revenge, he
decided to do something about meth and  attack the problem, not the
person.

We want to applaud Boswell, Buck and Island Grove for  taking the drug
seriously. It's about time the rest of  us did, as well.
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MAP posted-by: Derek