Vol. 3, No. 14
.jpg)
May 15, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . | |||||||
 |
Find Out
More About Our Wonderful State. |
COPYWRITING
|
|
Top News Story:
Chanos Rural Meth Summit Moves Into Winnemucca
Three-Day Program Will Highlight Nevada's Status As Number One
by Johnny Gunn
It's the scourge of rural counties across the country, and according to law enforcement sources, Nevada's rural areas are leading the nation in problem drug use and manufacture. Methamphetamine, the most devastating of today's most popular illegal drugs has ruined lives around the Silver State and Attorney General George Chanos wants to make certain that Nevadans are fully aware of how serious the problem is. To that end, Chanos is holding various meth meetings in Nevada. On May 17, 18, and 19, the caravan will be in Winnemucca for the Rural Meth Summit.
Methamphetamine is easy to make, until recently the precursors for the chemical were relatively easy to come by, and when taken for recreation has led to the death of children, spouses, and the users. Those that don't die from its use often find themselves as walking dead, unable to function in society. The cost to taxpayers is immense: law enforcement and incarceration, health and rehabilitation clinics, loss of revenue costs to business are among those that create those costs.
At the Rural Meth Summit, Chanos says he has lined up the state's most knowledgeable to hold discussions including officials from the AG's office, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, various Sheriff's departments, and Districts Attorney. On day one, the methamphetamine discussion will revolve around law enforcement perspectives; drug courts and do they work; and how children and families are impacted by a family member abusing the chemical.
Other discussions during the summit will include in-depth looks at federal and state laws concerning meth and its manufacture. The federal government has finally begun a program to halt the sale of certain over the counter medicines that go into its manufacture. What that has done is force the little kitchen chemist to give up the trade, and that slack has been taken up by major Mexican drug cartels. Tons of the medicine's components are now being sold by U.S. manufacturers to sources in Mexico where methamphetamine factories are turning out tons of death.
The considerably more than porous border between Mexico and the U.S. allows the drug to move freely into this country. One problem that is surfacing is how very young people are using the drug. Grammar school children have become abusers, particularly if one of their parents is a user. The medical, social, and human costs of this epidemic will be one of the subjects of discussion during day two of the summit.
One question that will be highlighted according to sources in the Attorney General's office is what part various organizations must play to bring the problem under control. For instance, should the judiciary have more to say than just sentencing abusers? Should law enforcement also play an educational role? Are educators also to be in law enforcement? And, some say this is all but impossible because of the nature of methamphetamine addiction, can a person be rehabilitated, and who should be doing the rehab work?
Attorney General Chanos will be the banquet speaker on day two of the summit. There will be group discussions, breakout workshops, and floor discussions all three days according to the schedule released by the AG.
According to a report issued by the White House earlier this year, drug manufacturers in this country have been a major part of the problem, and continue so today. Since over the counter medicines that can be precursors for the manufacture of meth are now being controlled, the drug companies are selling the basic components in bulk to Mexican drug cartels. One source, quoted in the White House report said that so much raw drug material is sent to Mexico today, that if the entire population of the that country suffered from extreme allergies there would still be at least ten times enough medicine to control their problem. In other words, U.S. drug companies are the source for the illegal drug that is now brought across the Mexican border into this country. Some say congressional action has been slow at best when control of this chemical is questioned. Many have called for strong federal controls over the precursor chemicals and their exportation. Mexico, certain Asian countries, and the Israeli Mafia manufacture methamphetamine and ecstasy for export to this country using components provided by U.S. companies.
Law enforcement agencies have been faced with a secondary problem that surfaces because of the use of meth; child and spousal abuse. A person under the influence of meth is generally out of control, is paranoid, and lashes out physically at anyone or anything that appears to be a threat. Children and spouses have died or been seriously injured in just about every county in Nevada. Most rural law agencies are stretched to the limit and meth can be traced to a great majority of the crimes committed today, in rural or urban settings. Clark County Sheriff Young says his department is sure that meth and its related problems are at the base of most of the crimes committed in that populous county.
One problem that seems to surface regularly during discussions over the meth epidemic is the fact that most abusers that have attempted rehabilitation go back to abusing at the first opportunity. The psychological draw of the drug is that strong. Rehab simply doesn't work according to most in the industry. That leads to the question: should abusers simply be incarcerated and forget the idea of rehab?
•••