Pubdate: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 Source: Cibola County Beacon (NM) Copyright: 2006 Cibola County Beacon Contact: http://www.cibolabeacon.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3568 Author: Ilene Haluska Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH MADNESS: OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS DRUG PROBLEMS CIBOLA COUNTY - More than 50 city, village and county officials attended and several testified at a methamphetamine awareness discussion in early August at Grants City Hall. Facilitated by U.S. Representative Steve Pearce, R-Dist. 2, the discussion resulted in unofficial plans to combat methamphetamine abuse through local ordinances, training, law enforcement and drug treatment. Pearce said he expects to have an official report for Cibola officials this fall, so that officials can determine which programs they need to start or expand. Pearce noted that Cibola County has already done a significant amount of work on the meth problem. For example, he said the county is one of the only ones he has encountered on his tour of the state, with a teenager on its staff for teen court. Nicola Martinez, a certified preventionist from the Cibola County Teen Court program, and DWI Program Director Rhetta King are addressing prevention strategies and education suitable for Cibola County youths and adults. "The solutions need to be locally driven," Pearce told them. Grants Mayor Joe Murietta told the congressman and the audience that the meth problem needs to be stopped before it gets worse. However, Pearce later pointed out that the war on drugs has been going on for more than 20 years. Pearce advised the group not to wait for Santa Fe or Washington to provide curriculums or direction because each community has different demographics. There is a point where addicts cannot go back and reclaim their innocence, the congressman said. "If we did not do something ... our kids' ... heart and soul will be eaten out." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman