Pubdate: Tue, 28 Feb 2006
Source: Cherokee County Herald (AL)
Copyright: 2006 Cherokee County Herald.
Contact:  http://news.mywebpal.com/index.cfm?pnpid=726
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1912
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

WAR ON DRUGS MOVES TO COUNTY'S SCHOOLS

A recovering methamphetamine addict who has been clean  for two years 
joined the Cherokee County Sheriff's  Department and Drug Task Force 
recently to tell  students how drugs can destroy lives. Clark Combs 
said  his problem started as a teenager when he began having  a few 
beers with friends. "When I was about 16 years  old, alcohol is the 
first thing I tried and I thought  it was going to be all right," 
Combs recalled. "I drank  a few beers. It became a problem too. It is 
a gateway  drug. Alcohol led me to smoking marijuana. I had  heard 
the word 'addict' or 'alcoholic,' but those were  weak-minded 
persons, somebody different from me." In  his early 20s, Combs was 
introduced to methamphetamine  by a co-worker when he had a job 
laying tile. He had  tried cocaine, but the high from cocaine lasted 
only a  few minutes, while the high from meth may last days.

After 13 DUIs, Combs wanted to lick his drinking  problem. He even 
took meth to "cover up" his drinking.  He lost several jobs and often 
found himself not  wanting to get out of bed in the morning. In 2001, 
Combs himself was hit by a drunk driver and suffered  broken ribs and 
other injuries. "I was in pretty bad  shape," he said. "I wasn't 
really thinking about  whether or not I was going to live then, all I 
was  thinking about where I was going to get more dope. And  when I 
was laying in the hospital room, I was still  able to reach the phone 
and dial the numbers. I started  calling to get some dope." Combs 
said he received a  nice insurance settlement because of this 
accident and people started coming out of the woodwork to 
inquire  about his condition.

"They wanted to help me spend that money on dope," he  said. For a 
few months, it was one big party until the  money ran out. Combs 
pointed to one side of the  bleachers where students were sitting. 
"There were this  many people in my house at one time smoking 
dope,"  Combs said. "When you've got that many people in your  living 
room, you've got a problem." In 2002, Combs was  arrested in Etowah 
County, and in 2004, he was arrested  in Cherokee County, where he 
remained in jail for more  than a year. "Back when I was using, I was 
always  afraid you would tell on me. I would call you a snitch.  I 
would like to meet that person today who snitched on  me for one 
reason. That person saved my life." Combs  said he became involved in 
Narcotics Anonymous, the  local Celebrate Recovery and other programs 
to help him  stay clean. He now uses his experiences to 
encourage  others not to take the same path. Combs 
challenged  students to let him know if they or someone they 
know  has a d! rug problem. "If you have a family member or  somebody 
that is on dope, tell them they need to get  some help," he said. "By 
calling the police or someone  else, you are not doing anything to 
them. You are doing  something for them, I promise you." While Combs 
and the  officers made their presentations, Cherokee 
County  Narcotics Dog Casey and Cherokee County Deputy and  Trainer 
Chris O'Neal did a sweep through the school on  a random search. 
Cherokee County Sheriff Larry Wilson  said O'Neal and Casey searched 
all rooms and lockers in  the school, accompanied by Principal Paul 
McWhorter.  The program was part of operation Clandestine Drug  Labs, 
which are being staged at schools in the county.  "We just want to 
get everybody's attention to let them  know we are going to be coming 
in and out, checking the  schools regularly," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom