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Tuesday, May 9, 2006
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Area residents make meth their business About 130 show support for war against addiction by attending community event presented by county meth coalition Staff Writer BAXTER - Residents of Crow Wing County are being enlisted to fight the war on methamphetamine.
Parents, children, public officials and recovering drug addicts were among the 130 people who attended a Crow Wing County Meth Coalition community event Monday at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. The coalition also conducted an event last week in Crosby. The events were titled "Meth: It's Everybody's Business."
The purpose of the event was to allow residents to gain an understanding about methamphetamine and voice their opinions on what needs to be done to address the meth problem in Crow Wing County.
"I think this evening is an evening about hope, hope that happens when people come together for solutions," said Rose Hauge, Crow Wing County methamphetamine coordinator.
The most emotional offering Monday was from David Vang, a recovering meth addict who has been sober for four years. Vang, one of three recovering meth addicts who spoke at the start of the event, said he quit using drugs after meeting the woman who would become his wife, Jennifer Vang. She helped him quit drugs, he said, but she used them without him knowing. She died of a drug overdose in March.
"My life will never be the same. It just goes to show how strong these drugs are," Vang said, fighting back tears. "I can't change what happened but I can help change what happens in our community today."
Vang received a standing ovation from the majority of those attending the event.
Following brief presentations from recovering meth addicts and Crow Wing County officials, participants broke off into four groups covering key areas related to meth: intervention and enforcement, care and treatment, education and prevention and youth concerns.
After roundtable discussion among the four groups, participants voted on desired outcomes.
At the youths table, which mostly consisted of children - nine of whom signed up to be a part of the coalition - desired outcomes included drug education in schools, more affordable family activities and adequate funding for drug prevention and training.
At the intervention and law enforcement tables, desired outcomes included more programs for youths, more intensive supervision and probation and community involvement with law enforcement.
The cost of meth
Meth-related costs in Crow Wing County totaled $1,540,605 in 2005:
$132,435 for law enforcement expenses.
$140,066 for jail expenses.
$117,787 for court-related costs.
$768,000 for out-of-home placements.
$195,542 for chemical dependency programs.
$205,897 for the county attorney's office services.
$3,700 for the health department services.
Meth labs seized
in Crow Wing County
In 2000 - 2.
In 2001 - 1.
In 2002 - 2.
In 2003 - 7.
In 2004 - 5.
In 2005, after Crow Wing County enacted an ordinance restricting the sale of chemicals used to make meth - 0.
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At the education and prevention tables, desired outcomes were to educate younger children with better curriculum, reduce the stigma surrounding meth and have stiffer penalties.
At the care and treatment tables, desired outcomes were increasing funding and grants for meth programs, utilizing the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center campus and using proven faith-based programs.
Debbie Anderson, a Crow Wing County public health nurse, attended Monday's event not only because she works with clients affected by meth but because as a mother she wants to protect her children. Sitting at the care and treatment table, she said she appreciated being part of a focus group rather than looking at the meth issue from a single perspective.
"You get the best panoramic perspective of the problem, the intervention and the treatment," she said. "That's what a democracy is about. This is awesome. It's exciting and we have to do our part."
The coalition will use the information gathered Monday to create a meth prevention strategy for the next three years in Crow Wing County. The report is expected by the end of May.
"We all need to make a commitment to do something," said Karl Samp of the Initiative Foundation, which helped organize Monday's event. "If we don't act, nothing happens. All of this energy we created disappears."
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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