Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2003
Source: Sand Mountain Reporter, The (AL)
Copyright: 2003sSand Mountain Reporter.
Contact:  http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1713
Author: Brandy Yates, The Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT

Crystal methamphetamine is a problem that's been affecting this area for a 
number of years and is a problem that's getting worse with each passing year.

However, members of a local committee, who hope to conquer this issue, have 
released their recommendations for how to deal with the drug problem.

The Marshall County Methamphetamine Task Force, which was formed in 
December 2001 to investigate the issue of methamphetamine use, possession, 
distribution and/or manufacture and assess its impact upon the community, 
has worked for the last 18 months developing their recommendations for 
tackling this disturbing problem.

District Attorney Steve Marshall, who is one of the persons responsible for 
the formation of the Task Force, announced the group's ideas Friday during 
a press conference held in the Marshall County Commission Chambers at the 
courthouse in Guntersville.

Marshall said the committee, through their "countless hours of work," came 
to the conclusion that no single recommendation will solve the numerous 
problems associated with this drug.

Rather, he said, the Task Force decided this is a problem that should be 
targeted by addressing specific issues in very specific ways.

"We have to target our efforts," Marshall said.

Therefore, the Task Force decided proposals to address issues of 
prevention, treatment and prosecution are necessary, but should include an 
emphasis on identifying ways to prevent the use of drugs by young adults.

In addition, the recommendations also attempt to build upon other programs 
currently in place that have proven to be successful.

"Drug Court is a shining example of this, and I think it's an indication of 
where Marshall County is ahead of other areas in this state. The recidivism 
rate for those who come through Drug Court is about 10 percent while the 
statewide average is about 60 to 70 percent," Marshall said.

One of the most important issues to come out of the Task Force's work, 
Marshall said, is the realization the effort to address this problem is not 
solely one that can be taken on only by law enforcement but will require 
the time, efforts and dedication of the entire community. "If the community 
looks to law enforcement to do this alone, then we'll never get ahead of 
the curve," he said.

As part of the force's long-range planning goals, they hope to form a 
non-profit corporation, which would be named Drug Free Marshall County. The 
corporation would seek grant funding and serve as a coordinating body on 
drug-related issues throughout the county as well as collect data on 
methamphetamine use, public health, crime and other societal costs.

Marshall said the Task Force has applied for a drug-free community grant 
that would be used to specifically target young people. Because they 
haven't received word as to whether the grant has been approved, Marshall 
said they haven't formed the non-profit corp.

"There is a question as to under which umbrella the corporation would have 
to be formed. We're waiting on the grant, which we hope will give us some 
direction on that, he said.

The Merchants Against Meth program is one the Task Force has not only 
received "wonderful feedback" on but also hope to build upon. The program 
provides local retailers with a list of precursor chemicals used for the 
manufacture of crystal meth and offers training for employees regarding 
these issues.

"The Merchants Against Meth program really has a two-fold purpose. One is 
to help us identify significant numbers of people who are buying precursor 
chemicals, and another is to make it a little more difficult for customers 
to buy significant quantities of precursor chemicals," Marshall said.

Because of the program, Marshall said, several local retailers have begun 
placing chemicals that are used to make meth on shelves out of the 
customers' reach, thereby forcing those who want the products to request 
assistance in obtaining them. In addition, Marshall said the Task Force is 
training merchants to sell such products only to customers who "will use 
them for legitimate purposes."

Another recommendation of the group will be put into effect before the end 
of next month. Marshall said they plan to implement a county-wide human 
resources training program, which will be provided to personnel managers 
and smaller companies as a means to assisting them in either upgrading or 
establishing drug testing policies and awareness.

The Task Force also plans to continue promoting public awareness of the 
problem by continuing to host town meetings. However, those meetings, 
Marshall said, will have to be more focused than the meetings held last 
year throughout the county.

In order to provide current information regarding crystal meth and its 
impact upon the entire community, Marshall said the group hopes to utilize 
state-wide resources in more comprehensive ways, a move that should enable 
them to better reach residents of the county and teach them to be part of 
the solution.

One of the ways the Task Force hopes to accomplish this is by providing, by 
the end of this year, a Website on which people can access drug-related 
information and resources. The Website would be developed in conjunction 
with Drug Free Marshall County.

In addition, the group plans to request the Marshall County Legislative 
Delegation seek to modify the Code of Alabama by reestablishing mandatory 
minimum sentences for trafficking offenses, and make it so the five-year 
enhancement provision for individuals convicted of distribution of 
controlled substances within three miles of a public school or public 
housing project shall not be subject to suspension or probation.

It is also the wish of the Task Force to recommend the creation a 
state-wide commission to direct methamphetamine-based strategy, recommend 
legislation restricting the purchase of excessive amounts of precursor 
chemicals that could be used to make meth and recommend to the 
Congressional Delegation the federal government assist the pharmaceutical 
industry in developing an adulterant for pseudoephedrine that would 
prohibit its use in methamphetamine production.

Another recommendation of the group has already been implemented. Marshall 
has recently spoke at several local churches to teach parents how to talk 
to their children about drug use. Those meetings, he said, have had 
positive results, and he plans to continue them.

Plans are also in the works to work with community-based institution and 
employers to distribute educational materials as another means of reaching 
parents so has to enhance their awareness of the signs and dangers of drug 
use and help them take action to protect their children.

Additionally, the group hopes to develop a comprehensive public awareness 
campaign for employers that will be designed to promote the creation of 
drug-free workplace policies and employee assistance programs, which 
include referrals to substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

In order to meet their goal of reaching young people with information about 
crystal meth, the Task Force recommends using older students - high school 
juniors and seniors - as mentors. Marshall said the students would be 
trained to speak to junior high and elementary students about why it's 
important to remain drug-free. Students chosen for the mentor program would 
be local schools' best and brightest, Marshall said.

"One conclusion we can to is that kids do not want to listen to a bunch of 
adults come in and tell them why drugs are bad," Marshall said.

It's also important, the group concluded, that by the end of the year, all 
schools in Marshall County adopt a "consistent and comprehensive program 
for student drug testing."

"This is my perspective, but I advocate this because it would give a kid an 
additional reason to say no. Hanging the threat of drug testing over them 
would allow a young person to resist peer pressure," Marshall said.

As for dealing with the law enforcement side of the issue, the committee 
recommends formulating a mechanism to provide immediate access to 
immigration officials and increase the ease with which offenders may be 
deported in order to speed the process of addressing illegal aliens 
participating in methamphetamine trafficking.

"The Hispanic community is not the reason for the drug problem in Marshall 
County ... ,but it allows more access to the drug, which is coming in from 
out of state. We know this is kind of a 'pie in the sky' recommendation 
because the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) is handicapped by 
(the lack of) resources, but we believe this is an issue that hurts 
Marshall County," he said.

In addition, the Task Force plans to form by the end of July a Citizen's 
Academy directed toward senior citizens over the age of 50, who would 
assist in the identification of illegal drug traffickers and illegal drug 
activity.

The issuance of the committee's recommendations do not reflect the end of 
the Task Force's work. Marshall said, over the coming months, the group 
will monitor the implementation of their recommendations and ultimately 
engage in an evaluations of the results.

Marshall said he is very proud of the Task Force for the work they've done 
in formulating these recommendations and thinks they will push this county 
to the forefront of this issue.

"I believe they have come up with a plan that will make a difference in 
Marshall County and will put us ahead of other counties likewise facing the 
same issue," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager