Pubdate: Sun, 14 Aug 2005
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2005 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ABOUT 200 PEOPLE TACKLE METH EPIDEMIC AT NEVADA CONFERENCE

MINDEN, Nev. - More than 200 people from Nevada and California gathered in 
Minden to discuss steps to combat the methamphetamine epidemic.

The Partnership of Community Resources and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and 
California sponsored the all-day program Friday at the Carson Valley Inn.

Meth was once associated with rural, blue-collar users. But the drug has 
invaded big cities and its abusers now include members of all racial and 
economic groups, said Washoe Tribal Chairman Brian Wallace.

"Given all the serious challenges that face us, I've never seen one more 
serious than what we're talking about today," Wallace said.

"Fighting this binds us together more closely than ever ... We're watching 
our communities eat themselves from within," he said.

Speakers included law enforcement authorities, treatment professionals and 
authors.

Ellen Hopkins of Carson City, whose novel "Crank" was based on her 
daughter's experience with meth, referred to the illegal drug as "the monster."

"If you are a parent, put the blame aside," Hopkins said. "There's plenty 
of blame to go around, but it's not about the blame. It's about trying to 
help them."

Cristi Cain, coordinator for the Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project, 
urged communities to take a local approach to dealing with the problem.

Communities shouldn't wait for tragedy to strike when dealing with children 
of meth-addicted parents, Cain added.

The conference was billed as the initial step in a community response to 
combating meth, which federal authorities say has surpassed marijuana as 
the greatest danger to the nation's children.

"This is a start to a community process to identify the problem, look at 
resources, set up a plan, and look at prevention and intervention," said 
Steve Lewis of the University of Nevada, Reno's Cooperative Extension 
Office in Gardnerville.

Cheryl Bricker, executive director of the Partnership of Community 
Resources, was pleased with the turnout that included representatives from 
12 of Nevada's 17 counties.

"Sometimes you go along thinking you're fighting this battle alone," she 
said. "It was very gratifying to see how energized people are to go to work 
in their communities."

Meth abuse has become the nation's leading drug problem affecting local law 
enforcement agencies, according to a recent survey of 500 sheriff's 
departments in 45 states.
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