Anti-meth coalition tackles serious addiction problem

No matter whose statistics you look at, you learn quickly that methamphetamine use is a serious, pervasive problem for the West, for Arizona and for Pinal County.

A countywide anti-meth coalition is taking a comprehensive approach at trying to tackle the problem of meth dealing, addiction and recovery.

By collaborating with six community coalitions (including Maricopa’s M.A.S.H. Anti-Substance Abuse Coalition), key community stakeholders, law enforcement, public health and mental health service providers, the countywide coalition hopes to attack the problem from all angles. Consider these facts:

§ Of the 787 children in foster care, 80 percent have a tie to meth, either through their own drug use or that of a family member.

§ Pinal County has twice the state rate for drug-exposed newborns.

§ There is a high rate of meth use among those committing crimes. 70 percent of Arizona crime is related to meth use, according to Attorney General Terry Goddard. In 2005, 38 percent of drug related charges in Pinal County were for meth.

§ Adult probation reports that 48 percent of all county probationers, who tested positive for drugs, were positive for meth.

§ Pinal County’s drug abuse dependence hospital stays (discharges) increased 546 percent from 2000 to 2003 according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

§ Casa Grande Regional Medical Center sees one or two meth addicts in the Emergency Department every day.

§ 2 to 3 out of every 10 babies born at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center are meth affected.

§ 70 percent of recovery survey respondents first used meth between ages 16 and 30.

§ The percentage of 8th,10th and 12th graders using drugs in the past 30 days, or over their lifetime, are both significantly higher than the state rate.

§ 19 to 23 percent of Pinal County students have come to school drunk or high, according to a 2006 survey. This also exceeds the state rates.

§ A third or more Pinal youth report that their parents have attitudes favoring substance use.
Statistics courtesy of the Pinal County Anti-Meth Coalition

Pinal County leaders and public health officials recognize that the problem of meth use and addiction is a serious community problem, requiring attention from parents, educators, employers and public safety officials. Pinal County is an active participant in the State of Arizona’s anti-meth coalition effort. However, the County’s focus on coalition building to pursue local solutions within the context of larger efforts is drawing attention statewide.

“Our schools, businesses, families and personal security are at risk. Meth addicts lie, cheat and steal in search of cash to feed their addictions,” Board of Supervisors Chairman David Snider emphasized. “We need to work together to heal the addicted and remove the sources of meth distribution and sales. If we don’t succeed, we will all pay the price.”

“Thankfully, we have many of the key players already attuned to the problem,” Pinal County Supervisor Sandie Smith said. “It is not enough to be active at the institutional level, though. We need families to understand that this is a life-wrecking drug, and it is ruining families and relationships across all economic levels.”

“Users come from every ethnicity, age group and socioeconomic group. The best and brightest families have struggled with meth addiction,” Cindy Schaider, Director of the Casa Grande Alliance added.

“The so-called ‘golden years’ aren’t so golden for many grandparents in Pinal County who are the primary caregivers for their grandkids,” Supervisor Lionel Ruiz explained. “When an illegal drug as addictive as meth hits a family, the ripple effect is huge. A very high percentage of grandparents are raising their grandchildren because the parents got involved with meth and other drugs.”

Meth users engage in extremely risky behavior when under the influence of the drug. One meth addict in the Phoenix area was electrocuted while trying to steal copper wire from a live utility substation. Copper theft and meth use often go hand in hand. Talk to any police officer or ambulance worker, and you will hear countless stories of meth related crimes or injuries.

The reasons meth addicts will risk serious injury, or even death, to steal metal comes with the withdrawals from the drug. A withdrawal from meth is much more intense than the usual physical effects, like headaches or the shakes from other drugs. Meth users will experience symptoms of depression and extreme fatigue. Their craving for another methamphetamine high is so powerful that they will do anything to get the drug, including scaling high voltage power lines to get a bundle of copper wire.

“Recovery from this drug is possible, but it takes tremendous commitment from the addict and support for the medical and mental health community,” said Pinal County Health and Human Services Director, Lisa Garcia. “We are working with our partners in the community and with law enforcement to make sure we stay proactive and deliver the resources that people need.”

To learn more:

Other sources of information about methamphetamines and meth addiction:
Arizona Meth Project: http://www.arizonamethproject.org/

National Association of Counties’ August 2007 report The Meth Epidemic: The Changing Demographics of Meth and other resources:
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfmSection=Meth_Action_Clearinghouse&Template

U.S. Department of Justice’s October 2007 report entitled National Drug Threat Assessment 2008: http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs25/25921/25921p.pdf

The Partnership for a Drug Free America: http://www.drugfree.org/

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs: http://www.methamphetamine.org/