Reporter's Notebook When Mary first called the newsroom in August 2005, she left voicemails with several reporters. As natural skeptics, most dismissed her declaration of being scared straight and her vow to never use methamphetamine as premature at best. And it was. Addictions are rarely cured by a moment's realization. But I wanted to see recovery from the inside, so I asked if photographer Brad Horn and I could follow her through the process. She agreed, and we went to her house to meet her. [continues 166 words]
'I'M TOTALLY SCARED STRAIGHT' In August 2005, Mary Reasoner called the Nevada Appeal. The mother of two said she'd been "scared straight" after a near-death experience brought on by years of methamphetamine abuse. She was home recovering from gall bladder surgery, but wanted to find a way to reach the community to tell people of the horrors of meth, swearing she'd never use again. She agreed, instead, to allow a reporter and a photographer to follow her through her recovery process. [continues 1119 words]
A new program launched in January aims to convince drug-abusing mothers to get help for their addictions before they permanently lose their parental rights. The Mentor Moms program pairs former drug addicts who almost lost their children with other abusers facing the same ordeal. The mentors use their experiences, insight and success at kicking their own habits and getting their children back to motivate other women to do the same. So far, about a dozen women have been referred for services through the program. Many others attend orientation meetings to get help. [continues 788 words]
With 23 years as a DARE officer, Deputy Chris Griffith is pretty sure he has the most experience teaching "resistance skills" to fifth-graders of any officer across the country - or the world, as the program is international. Now, he has a plaque to prove he is the "DARE Officer of the Year" in Nevada. He received the award March 22 at the state DARE officers' convention in Winnemucca. "It was a secret and a complete surprise," he said in an interview Thursday from the office he shares with Youth Services Officer Teresa Duffy. [continues 489 words]
A Dayton Elementary School teacher's efforts to keep her fifth-grade students off of drugs has landed her a statewide honor. Linda Peterson was chosen as the 2006-2007 D.A.R.E. Teacher of the Year, a statewide honor designed to honor teachers who participate in the D.A.R.E, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, program. She said that along with Lyon County Sheriff's D.A.R.E. Officer Bob Kahn, she tries to make sure her students understand the dangers of all kinds of drugs, from meth to inhalants, to alcohol and tobacco. [continues 238 words]
Regarding Nur Kausar's Mar. 22nd op-ed: Alcohol kills more Americans each year than all illegal drugs combined. Prescription overdose deaths are now second only to motor-vehicle crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury. Television is filled with pro-drug messages paid for by alcohol and pharmaceutical companies. The Bush administration doesn't have a problem with corporate drug pushers. But hoist a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner at an off-campus high school rally in Alaska, and they will fight you all the way to the Supreme Court. It is not clear how this nonsensical phrase somehow merits limiting free speech. [continues 112 words]
I heartily endorse Nevada Supreme Court Justice Jim Hardesty's proposed legislation to deport non-violent criminal aliens in a policy shift that would relieve prison overcrowding and save Silver State taxpayers many millions of dollars per year. I urge state lawmakers to give Hardesty's proposal the careful consideration that it deserves. According to Justice Hardesty, Nevada could save at least $10 million a year by deporting some 500 non-violent criminal aliens, each of whom costs taxpayers approximately $20,000 per year (although I think those numbers are closer to 2,000 criminals and $50,000 per inmate). Many of these convicted felons are in prison for possessing "trafficking amounts" of illicit narcotics. As a part-time English/Spanish interpreter, I've seen this problem up close and personal over the past 10 years and don't think the current approach is a cost-effective approach to the problem. At present, drug "mules" usually serve two- to six-year prison terms before being deported. [continues 708 words]
Justices should be able to see the obvious when determining the fate of student free speech The U.S. Supreme Court took on its first case about student free speech rights in almost 20 years this week. The case came from Juneau, Alaska, where a student was suspended for having a banner that read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," the high school principal's reason for suspension being that the student was promoting drug use. In 2002, student Joseph Frederick held up the banner on a public sidewalk across the street from the school during school hours, in an attempt to be funny and get on television while the Winter Olympics torch relay passed. He was suspended for 10 days. [continues 678 words]
FALLON - A Fallon man who reportedly started using drugs at 9 years old went to the Nevada State Prison Tuesday for selling methamphetamine to area drug users. Anthony Osborne Slote told investigators at the division of parole and probation that he sold narcotics in Fallon for about a year, according to District Attorney Arthur Mallory. "Now is the time to say something about people who sell meth in our community," Mallory told District Judge Robert E. Estes at Slote's sentencing hearing. "He was supported by his mother and his wife and made money by selling methamphetamine." [continues 294 words]
While methamphetamine is still the drug of choice in Nevada County, two other narcotics are emerging on the scene - heroin and OxyContin - - powerful and addictive substances, said Bob Gillaspie, drug and alcohol program manager with the Nevada County Behavioral Health Department. "(Nevada County) is seeing an increase of heroin use, within just this last year," Gillaspie said. A 23-year-old Truckee man was treated for a heroin overdose last week. Truckee Fire Protection District treated him at the scene with Narcan, then transported him to Tahoe Forest Hospital, Truckee Police Detective Robert Womack said. [continues 211 words]
On a very serious topic, and a growing epidemic within our community, the Community Counseling Center and the Carson City Sheriff's Department have entered into a partnership to provide home drug tests for families who may be concerned about their "teenage children" using drugs. In a joint effort of early intervention parents can purchase a drug test kit for $4. Let me give you some statistics to think about: 53 percent of the teen population has tried illegal drugs 41 percent of teens have used illegal drugs in the past [continues 234 words]
A 23-year-old Truckee man was treated for a heroin overdose last week at a time when heroin use in Nevada County is reportedly on the rise. While methamphetamine is still the drug of choice in Nevada County, two other narcotics are emerging on the scene -- heroin and OxyContin - -- powerful and addictive substances, said Bob Gillaspie, drug and alcohol program manager with the Nevada County Behavioral Health Department. "[Nevada County] is seeing an increase of heroin use, within just this last year," Gillaspie said. [continues 519 words]
Re "Leave my cold medicine alone" (View from the Fray, March 1): How should Reno respond to illicit methamphetamine use? During the crack epidemic of the '80s, New York City chose the zero-tolerance approach, opting to arrest and prosecute as many offenders as possible. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack, and America's capital had the highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet crack use declined in both cities simultaneously. Simply put, the younger generation saw firsthand what crack was doing to their older brothers and sisters and decided for themselves that crack was bad news. This is not to say nothing can be done about meth. Access to drug treatment is critical for the current generation of users. Diverting resources away from prisons and into cost-effective treatment would save both tax dollars and lives. Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. [end]
While law enforcement continues to arrest and prosecute methamphetamine dealers and educate the public about its dangers, addiction counselors warned state leaders on Thursday that if more money isn't put into treatment, the meth threat will never be gone. "When someone calls my agency and says I need a bed now, I have to say 'Call back tomorrow,'" Mick Hall, clinical director of Bristlecone Family Resources, a Reno treatment center, told the newly formed Governor's Working Group on Methamphetamine Use in Nevada. [continues 414 words]
Carson City elected officials have earmarked anti-methamphetamine efforts and outdoor playing fields for local youths as their top priorities for federal grant money expected to come to the community. The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada has asked for $253,000 to construct a multipurpose outdoor field as a public facility. The city's public works department also would like $267,600 to improve sidewalks around Empire Elementary School so disabled residents could get around more easily. An advisory group comprised of residents and local government officials reviewed requests from several sources within the community. Their recommendations were provided to the supervisors, who met on Thursday. [continues 342 words]
If 63 Nevada legislators get their way, I'll be wasting more time and money in doctors' offices just to get the simple over-the-counter decongestant I use to treat minor colds and allergies. A proposed bill that would make decongestants with pseudoephedrine, among other things, available only with a doc's prescription perhaps makes sense as a frontal assault in the War on Drugs. Pseudoephedrine is used to make meth. Stop its sale--and, voila! No more drug labs in trailer parks. [continues 560 words]
I'm writing about John DiMambro's column: "Carson City's drug war will be long and deadly" (2-11-07). I'll make another prediction about Carson City's drug war: It will be a complete waste of time, money and effort. Ninety years ago, all types of recreational drugs were legally available in local pharmacies for pennies per dose. Ninety years ago, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. That's because drugs like pure pharmaceutical-grade Bayer heroin sold for about the same price as Bayer aspirin. [continues 198 words]
Why are we punishing law-abiding citizens in an attempt to curb mom-and-pop meth labs? How many people are making meth versus how many who only want to relieve their allergy symptoms? [Requiring a prescription to buy pseudoephedrine] is a draconian measure that inconveniences the public to no point that I can see. Yes, meth is a dreadful drug. But like all addictive substances, its users are perfectly aware it's not going to do their health any good and they do it anyway. Not once, in the history of our country, have any attempts to curb illegal drugs use or manufacture ever worked -- from meth labs to Prohibition booze. Marijuana is now one of the top cash crops in this country (just think of all the taxes we could be raking in on that!). Are we going to start locking up fertilizer and hydroponic grow lights? [continues 70 words]
Regarding the recent letters on the meth epidemic, a few points, No. 1, change the way pawn shops are able to do business. They are essentially legal traffickers of stolen goods. No. 2, accept that a disproportionate part of the meth community are "functional addicts," and they are in every part of our society, not just the underground. No. 3, meth destroys everyone regardless of age, job or social status. No. 4, meth is the most dangerous drug because it is a productive drug. We as a community need to do everything possible to eradicate this plague upon us. Call a cop, principal, a parent. Do whatever you can to put an end to this nightmare. Geoff Murphy Reno [end]
How should Nevada respond to illicit methamphetamine use? During the crack epidemic of the eighties, New York City chose the zero tolerance approach, opting to arrest and prosecute as many offenders as possible. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack and America's capital had the highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet crack use declined in both cities simultaneously. Simply put, the younger generation saw firsthand what crack was doing to their older brothers and sisters and decided for themselves that crack was bad news. [continues 53 words]
Inside Nevada
