Commentary; Posted: 1/11/06
Meth use in Minnesota is a major problem
A major problem for counties and communities in Minnesota this new year is the number of people taking methamphetamine and the consequences to their health, their childrenís welfare and strain on the court, prison, human service and health systems.
More than ever, district court judges are seeing meth-related cases.
In Anoka County where 367 drug cases were filed through October of last year, over half dealt with this highly addictive and dangerous drug.
In Dakota County, the number of case filings involving meth were 342 through October; Washington County, 157; Sherburne County 74; Scott County, 104; Mille Lacs County, 34 and Morrison County, 40.
In Dakota County, nearly half of the cases handled by the county attorney is related to methamphetamine. In 11 years the number of meth-related cases has gone up from 13 to 446, and thereís no letup in sight.
Anoka County authorities say 566 meth offenders are on probation. A surprising number of young women are taking this dangerous drug, according to Carol Falkowski of Hazelden who finds this trend disturbing.
While recent legislation to move one important ingredient ephedrine or pseudo ephedrine behind counters in drugstores is reducing the number of meth labs in the state, more people are taking meth. That law, however, has dramatically cut the number of meth labs.
But the emphasis on the labs may be concealing the real problem: 80 percent of methamphetamine is manufactured outside the state and comes through pipelines from Mexico and California.
The drug is easy to get and it is affordable. It is replacing cocaine as the drug of choice.
Community leaders need to be concerned, because high school students are using this available drug.
The drug is popular because it gives the user an unusual high. It is dangerous because it is highly addictive, and it takes a long time, as much as 18 months, to recover from its use.
Dakota County authorities are holding special sessions for parents and students to alert them to the seriousness of this drug, which could be fatal. In Hastings, 700 parents came to hear the meth message. The next session will be in Inver Grove Heights on Jan. 30. This is a model other counties may want to examine.
In Mille Lacs County, a Coalition for Meth Education and Drug Awareness has been organized, modeled after a similar program in Wright County. The purpose is to raise awareness of the drug throughout the county.
Because longer treatment programs are needed both inside the prisons and jails and outside where supervised supportive housing programs are preferred, costs are high. If this meth use continues, the Legislature will be asked to fund longer treatment programs on one end and prevention programs on the other.
The Minnesota Legislature last session OKíd $1,500,000 for grants to develop treatment models. Anoka and Sherburne counties landed two of the grants.
A grant for $428,000 in Anoka County will target women in jail and on child protection. The traditional 28-day chemical dependency treatment program will be used with a 30-day follow-up and moving these women into a different environment.
In the words of one county official, ìMethamphetamine is nothing to play around with and itís important that high school students and their parents understand the dangers of this drug.î ó Don Heinzman
Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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