VISION:
Working together to create a clear and concise message
that drugs are a problem in our communities and offer
tools to reduce the use of methamphetamines and other
drugs.
PURPOSE:
To develop consistent, effective messaging to be used
in educational materials and venues in an effort to expand
the number of people who are reached with information
about preventing, reducing, and/or treatment for the use
of drugs, especially methamphetamines.
It takes a community to 'reduce use'
It can be observed that the true measure of a community's
livability rests with the resolve of its citizens to confront
the causes of social decay. Crime, substance abuse, intolerance,
prejudice and short sightedness are a few of the root
causes that erode quality of life.
The Heartland United Way hosted a meeting entitled "Reduce
Use" to discuss the impact of substance abuse on
our community and explore ways to more effectively coordinate
the many efforts in place and better disseminate the vast
amount of information available to the public.
Joining in the discussion were representatives of law
enforcement and a variety of non-profit agencies devoted
to substance abuse education, prevention and treatment.
Grand Island is fortunate to have a great number of dedicated,
effective agencies and organizations engaged in the cause
ranging from Central Nebraska Community Services (CNCS),
the Grand Island Multicultural Coalition, Heartland CASA,
the Grand Island Substance Abuse Coalition and Hall County
Project Extra Mile Coalition, to such venerable organizations
such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Girl Scouts and
United Way. In addition, more than 70 support groups are
active throughout the region.
The Reduce Use discussion primarily centered on alcohol
and methamphetamine related impacts. Social and family
values related to alcohol consumption have changed markedly
over the years but abuses still take a great societal
toll. Probably the most tragic impacts are measured in
loss of life and injury suffered among underage drinkers
and the breakdown of family life because of addictive
behaviors.
More than 2,000 young Nebraskans were killed or injured
in alcohol-related car crashes between 2001 and 2003.
Drugs such as the party drug "ecstasy" and meth
are commonly available at underage drinking parties, making
alcohol an easy gateway to more highly addictive and damaging
substances. Meth is one of the most addictive, destructive
substances known to man.
A recent survey of teen habits revealed that teen drinking
is down but drug use is on the rise.
The community has for a number of years taken a hard line
on underage drinking. Programs such as Project Extra Mile
and Think B4U Wink have been effective in combating underage
drinking. And yet, underage drinking will claim more lives
as adults continue to look the other way, in effect endorsing
underage drinking.
While alcohol abuse touches more lives, meth use is moving
with stunning swiftness to infect families at all social
levels. No longer just a Midwest problem, the spread of
the drug to the urban population centers across the U.S.
has captured the focus of the mainstream media. USA Today
reported recently that 12 million Americans have tried
meth and that the country's employers have seen positive
drug test results for amphetamines rise 50 percent in
the past two years, contributing to escalating absenteeism
and lost productivity.
A hard-core meth addict has little chance of recovery
and rehabilitation is a long process taking from three
months to a year. Meth does not claim many casual users.
Law enforcement officials point out that 90 percent of
the meth traffic is controlled by well-organized cartels
and flows out of "warehouses" and super labs
positioned along and south the border with Mexico. The
remaining 10 percent of the supply comes from so called
"mom and pop" or "small cooker" operations
located in our neighborhoods or at the place down the
road in the country.
It is estimated that on average a meth addict will be
responsible for 63 crimes during their drug use years
including robbery, theft, property damage, drug trafficking
and crimes of violence, fraud and deceit.
The discovery of methamphetamine in the system of a local
18-month-old baby this summer should serve as a symbolic
alarm bell that the meth problem has become a problem
for the entire community.
Grand Island is a community that cares and we salute the
hundreds of volunteers and professionals engaged in the
effort to fight substance abuse and provide help to those
who seek it.
As the two law officers attending the Reduce Use meeting
pointed out, policing and the sense of community are interconnected.
Stated another way -- the police are the people and the
people are the police.
Grand Island Independent articles on METH:
Meth labs being hurt by new law by Robert Pore
Agencies brainstorm ways to reduce drug use by Gretchen Fowler
It will fool you' by Sarah Schulz
Common clues lead to meth houses, users by Carol Bryant
'The poor man's cocaine' by Sarah Schulz
Meth use leads to other crimes, police say by Sarah Schulz
