Trumann Wild Cats Host Drug Prevention Program

"Crime will only be as bad as communities will tolerate" -- Roy Nash, North Carolina Sheriff.

Several Trumann High School students volunteered their evening Thursday, Nov. 13 to help host a program called Meth 360 or Poinsett County Partners in Health Coalition. The program explained the different kinds of methamphetamine and the effects it has on people including weight loss, "meth mouth" (teeth missing or colored), low immune system, eyes sunken, and paranoia is the biggest sign.

Methamphetamine laboratories are increasingly prevalent throughout the United States. In 2002 more than 7500 laboratories were seized in 44 states, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso Intelligence Center in National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System. While methamphetamine production remains most common in the western portion of the United States--particularly California--seizures of methamphetamine laboratories in the west central part of the country have become more common place.

"Our job is to clean this mess up, and in my experience, this stuff is becoming more dangerous everyday," said Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg during the program. "We have seen where they have even cut lithium out of batteries to make it."

An officer for 17 years and chief for the past five five years Blagg also said that some of the dirtiest kinds of methamphetamine he has seen are called Nazi.

"Nazi is the trashy, nasty and messy meth," Blagg explained. "It leaves behind such a mess. "I could go on and on about the trash left behind from their labs."

He showed the audience a 20 ounce plastic coca cola bottle with a clear tube coming out of the top of it. The bottle was a bit caved in around the sides. He said that if someone finds this type of "trash" to stay away from it.

"You should call the police immediately and we will take care of it," said Blagg. "It could still contain some of the harmful substance in it."

Blagg went on to describe the different kinds of methamphetamine, how they make (cook) it. He also spoke of a specific methamphetamine called "ice."

"Ice comes from Texas and Mexico and is much more pure than any other type of meth." said the Chief. "It's about 70 to 90 percent more pure compared to crystal meth which is only 30 to 40 percent pure,"

While crystal methamphetamine is the most commonly known and used, ice is second. Another form Blagg spoke of is called "glass" the second common methamphetamine and then there's "glass", which he said is almost as well known as "ice".

During the presentation Blagg showed various items used to making methamphetamine, including things such as Sudafed capsules, Drain-O as well as lithium from small batteries or car batteries.

"The laws that have been put on Sudafed have really helped us and really cracked down on the problem," said Blagg. "Once someone purchases Sudafed, it is logged on the police database. We can tell how many you have purchased and how many in a week or day or even a month."

Blagg also warned parents about watching their children on the computers. "Monitor your computers, because they are teaching children how to make meth online now," said Blagg. "There are actual websites that show you how to make this substance properly."

"Its hard to deal with," concluded Blagg. "But dealing with it is going to change it for our community."

Other guests on the program were Charles Rodgers, from Consolidated Youth Services, and Kim Brown, from Crowley's Ridge Development Council. Rodgers is a recovered Crystal meth user and alcoholic for over 17 years.

"I'm clean by the grace of God," said Rodgers as he passed out a photo of himself when he was younger and using Crystal meth. "I weighed 85 pounds when I entered treatment. I was a junky and realized that I really needed some help."

Brown, also a recovered Crystal meth user, told her story next.

"I was cooking dope in 1994 and 1995," said Brown. "I lost my children because of it."

She did explained that it wasn't easy, but there is a way to seek help.

"There are treatments out there for meth users," said Brown. "Whether it be state funded, long or short term treatment or faith based (there is help)."

She explained that awareness of the problem plays a huge role in riding it from a community.

"Prevention does work," she said. "so keep talking about it, keep letting people know and make it aware."

Following Rodgers and Brown, Ashley Boles, 2nd Judicial District Juvenile Division Supervisor, told a story of a young girl who finally woke up almost too late.

"She was 13 years old, dating a 35 year old man and going from store to store buying Sudafed for him to make his Crystal methamphetamine," said Boles. "This was not a way of life for a young child. Her parents hadn't seen her in year. She was a runaway junkie, no one cared for her."

Boles said once they took her to the Juvenile Detention Center she began talking to the other girls. They told her they felt that the judge would let her off, because it was her first offense. As Boles took her before the judge, she kept telling him she knew she was wrong, she wouldn't do it again and that he didn't trust her.

"I looked at her and said 'I trust you, I just don't trust the drug that you're on," he said. "The girl began crying (indicating that) she knew that this wasn't the life for her."

Three months later, Boles received a letter from her. She was recovering and she thanked him.

"It's very rare in my line of work that you receive 'thank you' letters," Boles said. "But I was very grateful to hear from her."

Ending the presentations was Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills.

"We know we have a problem, we just need to find a solution," said Mills. "We're working on this meth problem, but we need your help too. We need to get together, find a solution and band together on it."

When Mills was asked in the question and answer session which followed the presentations what the community could do to help. Mills said, "Continue meetings like this, word of mouth and definitely get more people coming to these meetings to make them more aware."

Such as the methods of using the substance is by snorting, injection, swallowed or smoking. It is also offered in various ways such as powder, pill or crystal.