Thursday, January 25, 2007
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ByBrooke Chambers Reporter During Wednesday’s meeting of the River Valley Meth Group, local community leaders put their heads together to define goals for 2007 that would reduce drug abuse and its negative effects. After more than two years of successes, leaders from local government, law enforcement, school districts, industries, and drug-treatment agencies redirected their focus toward more current issues and also to include the faith-based community. With the decline of methamphetamine labs in recent years, law enforcement has turned its focus to drug users and suppliers, according to officials. But 5th Judicial Prosecutor David Gibbons said drug use is now manifesting itself through more and more violence, causing more significant problems in the area. “This violence is directly related to meth use,” Gibbons told the group. “We need to come up with a solution, there’s no question.” Russellville Police Chief Tom McMillen said his goal was to continue educating his officers about signs of drug use, while incorporating more officers into the department. Mayor Tyrone Williamson agreed and said he would like to add school resource officers to the Russellville School District. The two pledged to work together this year to make the idea happen. A large portion of Wednesday’s group included professionals from drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies who said they are also preparing for changes. “Our community-based treatment center is moving to the next level,” said ARVAC Executive Director Bob Adkison of Russellville’s Freedom House Rehab facility, explaining several treatment beds have been added recently. Glenda Hubbard of the 5th Judicial Drug Court said the local drug court program would receive additional funding this year that would be used for clients’ drug treatment. The Freedom House would benefit from that spending, she said. Freedom House Counselor Mike Chumley suggested the Meth Group direct its focus to alcohol and other types of illegal narcotics instead of focusing on one drug. “This problem is not going to go away,” he said. “So we have to set goals for the users and not turn our head away from the pills, IV drug use, and alcohol. Dry county or not, we have a huge alcohol problem.” Other group members wanted to turn their personal focus more toward preventing drug abuse before it starts. Carol Lee of Child Development Inc., Cheryl Scott of the Department of Children and Family Services, and Janet Cook of Community Services Inc. all said reaching children to prevent meth use topped their list for 2007. Lee said she would continue to request grant money for school programs, Scott suggested free after-school programs to keep children off the streets in the afternoons, and Cook challenged school employees to educate children more about the effects of drugs. Dover Superintendent Dan Lovelady, the only district superintendent present Wednesday, said in 2007 he would like Dover’s teachers to become more aware of signs of meth use in children’s homes, while also encouraging them to come forward with the information without the fear of retribution. Adkison and Scott also encouraged group members to invite faith-based community leaders to future meetings to make them aware of the local drug problem. “If you look in the newspaper, we have 204 churches in this area,” Adkison said. “If they all tithed 10 percent, they would have enough left to help us fund all of these programs. We need church involvement because this is society’s problem. ... It’s good to go to the churches, but we really need to bring the churches here — where the people are. We’re all a part of this community.” One faith-based representative was present Wednesday, Pastor Stan McDougal of First Christian Church of Russellville, who said he would be willing to get involved. Gary McElligot of Code, Camey & Associates directed Wednesday’s meeting, saying although many project goals had been accomplished, much still had to be done. |