Monday, December 22, 2003 11:33 AM CST
Battling meth: Residents welcome on coalition to curb drug use
BY DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- It's well-documented that Coles County has an ongoing problem with the drug methamphetamine, going as far as one publication listing the county No. 1 in the state for methamphetamine cases.
But how much do people really know about the drug? And, if they learn more, what can they think of to combat the problem?
A group made up of social services, law enforcement and medical leaders -- and any other interested residents -- is taking that approach to try to get a handle on the area's most prevalent drug problem.
"Our objective is to get the community aware and involved," said Brenda Ingle of Mattoon, who is one member of the committee leading the formation of a "coalition" to target the meth issue. "The problem is so big. It's affecting everyone. That's why we need the whole community involved."
The idea for the coalition came from a similar group covering Clark and Edgar counties, the Coalition Against Methamphetamine Abuse.
The Coles County group last met earlier this month, drawing about 20 people from such organizations as the East Central Illinois Task Force drug investigation agency, the Coles County probation office and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Ingle said the coalition also has some firsthand information from four former methamphetamine users.
As for what the group can actually do to help reduce the drug's presence in the county, Ingle said it's too early to tell. The first thing to do is to get people together and brainstorm about it, she said.
"I believe all of us can pull something in to make this work," Ingle said.
The coalition's next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Embarras River Basin Agency office at 825 18th St. in Charleston.
Kristin Chittick, president of the Clark-Edgar coalition, said the main focus of that group, now in its third year, has been on helping people in all walks of life recognize methamphetamine use and how it affects them.
"We've spent a lot of time getting the word out," she said. "It's really a lot of education at this point."
Tim Willis, the attorney who prosecutes cases that come out of the drug task force's arrests, said he supports another avenue to address the methamphetamine problem.
"I think it's an excellent idea," Willis said. "I can see a very important role for such a group."
People probably know about methamphetamine in general but may not know about the specifics of the drugs, its affects and the dangers associated with its manufacture, he said, and the coalition's work might lead to more resources for prevention and treatment.
Willis said he doesn't have figures on the number of meth cases in Coles County, and ECITF officers weren't available to give the information or to comment on the coalition's efforts.
But Willis said he thinks the problem isn't decreasing yet, and the severity of the cases that the county's experiencing, in fact, is increasing, a pattern that seems to develop in areas with a continuing meth problem. There have been fires caused by the meth manufacturing process that have injured people during the past year, something that wasn't seen earlier, he noted.
"This year, it's been far more serious as far as injuries or the potential for injuries," Willis said. "That's not unexpected."
Ingle said her interest in helping with the coalition comes from directing a treatment program called Alcohol/Chemical Treatment Series. She said the no-charge program helps people and their families and friends get away from the environment that led to drug abuse in the first place.
"You have to change the whole person," Ingle said.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
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