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| Home > Communities |
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| Methamphetamine |
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The Initiative Foundation believes that no other issue can threaten the health and well-being of Greater Minnesota communities like the production, distribution and use of methamphetamine. All of the foundation’s programs and priorities are potentially impacted by this dangerous drug, which is why we launched Minnesota ICE: A Rural Response to Methamphetamine - the state’s first allied effort to combat the meth epidemic.
With support from The McKnight Foundation, Bush Foundation, Hazelden Foundation and other local and regional supporters Minnesota ICE (Intervention, Care and Education) began in November 2005 with a statewide conference that attracted more than 2,500 community leaders and concerned citizens to St. Cloud. The foundation also published a special IQ Magazine to increase awareness of meth in Minnesota .
Since then, twelve county and community-wide coalitions have been formed to prevent further destruction by meth in our local communities.
Key program components included:
- Supporting volunteer coalitions at the county level
- Awarding grants that mobilized volunteers and resources to implement local prevention, intervention and efforts to support recovery from meth addiction
- Increased awareness and education about the dangers of methamphetamine
- Serving as a resource clearinghouse for meth materials, specifically IQ Magazine.
Realizing that meth is only part of the problem, most of the coalitions are now expanding their efforts to focus on teen alcohol prevention and other illicit drugs.
We are currently partnering with the following ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Centers to provide direct technical assistance to each of the Initiative Foundation coalitions:
Region Four ATOD Prevention Center
Sue Lyback-Dahl LSW, coordinator
Isle Recreation and Education Center
610 Mille Lacs Avenue, PO Box 921
Isle, MN 56342
Phone/fax: 320-676-1050
Cell: 320-333-1894
slybackdahl@isle.k12.mn.us
Region Five ATOD Prevention Center
Rick A. Paczkowski, M.S., coordinator
Clay County Public Health
715 11th St North, Ste #303
Moorhead, MN 56560
Phone: 218-299-7838
Fax: 218-299-7205
rick.paczkowski@co.clay.mn.us
Meth Facts
NAME: Methamphetamine
DRUG TYPE: Schedule II Stimulant, Highly Addictive
ALIASES: Meth, Ice, Crystal , Glass, Crank, Chalk, Yaba
MN ORIGINS: 80% and Southwestern U.S, 20% In-State (estimated)
MANUFACTURE: May be home-manufactured in “meth labs” with pseudoephedrine tablets and other over-the-counter chemicals. Accidental reactions may cause fires or explosions.
EFFECTS: Stimulates the central nervous system by increasing the natural production of dopamine, causing increased physical activity, decreased appetite and feelings of euphoria for up to eight hours.
SIDE EFFECTS: Irritability, hallucinations, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, aggressiveness and death.
- Meth is mainly a rural epidemic. Between 1999 and 2003, police raided more than 750 clandestine meth labs located mainly in Greater Minnesota. Meth “cooks” prefer the seclusion of rural communities.
- Meth consumes financial resources of local governments. Meth-related expenses total in the millions per rural county, diverting taxpayer dollars from community services and improvements.
- Meth poisons neighborhoods and natural resources. Every pound of manufactured meth yields five to seven pounds of toxic waste, most of which is dumped in drains or on the ground.
- Meth threatens children and families. About one out of twenty Minnesota high school seniors reported trying meth at least once. Half of all raided meth labs have children present.
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