Story Date: 3/12/2006 9:51:29 AM

Meth labs on decline


By Brooke Vermillion
government@cournernews.com
The River Valley Methamphetamine Project of Pope County was one of three community projects honored Monday at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock for its efforts in combating the drug epidemic.
Nine local members of the meth project received awards in the governor's conference room "due to the ongoing front-line work that our community is doing in combating the meth problem," according to Marti Wilkerson, RVMP lead facilitator.
The local meth project -- designed in 2004 to curb meth use, manufacturing, and distribution -- is comprised of local law enforcement officials, court personnel, drug treatment and rehabilitation services, schools administrators, business/industry managers, child protective services, Realtors, and the media.
Keith Rutledge, the state drug director, along with Deputy Director Scott Burns of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, recognized the RVMP, Boone County, and Benton County for their unique efforts.
According to Wilkerson, Rutledge was instrumental in helping initiate the Pope County Meth Demonstration Project in August 2004, which later phased into the River Valley Meth Project.
"His (Rutledge's) awareness of the good working relationships between the Pope County Sheriff (Jay Winters), the 5th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney (David Gibbons), and the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force led him to request Pope County develop a 120-day, action-oriented project aimed at eradicating meth," Wilkerson said this week.
She said the initial meth demonstration project submitted a report to the legislative session in 2005, which ultimately led to the passage of an act that prohibited the over-the-counter sale of pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth that is also used in common cold medicines.
Since the law was passed, Pope County's meth lab seizures decreased by 79 percent from 2004 through 2005. The average state-wide decrease in that time frame is only about 50 percent, Wilkerson said.
Because of the hard work Pope County and the 5th Judicial District have put into combating the meth problem, Rutledge also encouraged the community to apply for a Drug Free Communities Grant to get additional funding for their projects.
In fact, the judicial district's Drug Task Force, the critical "front line" of defense for the area, is facing potential funding cuts of up to 75 percent at the federal level this year.
The DTF's issues in funding will be discussed at the RVMP's March 29 meeting at Arkansas Tech University.
Awards
Those receiving awards at Monday's ceremony included:
- Jay Winters, Pope County Sheriff and RVMP Steering committee;
- David Gibbons, 5th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney and RVMP steering committee;
- Larry Johnson, 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force;
- Wilkerson, associate professor of rehabilitation science, Arkansas Tech Behavioral Science Department and lead facilitator of the RVMP;
- Sean Huss, assistant professor of sociology, Arkansas Tech Behavioral Sciences and RVMP lead researcher for "Understanding Crystal Methamphetamine Use: Community Impact and Intervention in Vulnerable Populations";
- Townsend Travis, senior sociology student and documentary assistant for RVMP research;
- Carol Lee, behavioral grants coordinator, Child Development Inc., and RVMP steering committee member;
- Bob Adkison, executive director, ARVAC Inc. and member of RVMP;
- Tammy Walters, Child Development Inc. and RVMP Steering committee.
Previous recognitions
Monday's ceremony was not the group's first state-wide recognition, however.
Joe Hill, director of the alcohol and drug abuse prevention (ADAP) program of the Department of Health and Human Services, gave members a pat on the back for their efforts in the community at the group's February meeting.
He said because the local meth project is uniquely formed as a coalition, it had the potential to be a huge success.
Hill said at the February meeting, "This is what works -- bringing all the parties together under a common bond, making a unified effort, and blending your resources. ... You are the people who will make a difference in meth treatment and prevention."                                                        Copyright © 2006, Russellville Newspapers, Inc.