Across the Director’s Desk

Thanks to Jeremy Strub, Chief Bollman, and Deputy Mellick for a very informative meeting on February 22 at the Main Feature. These three gentlemen talked to at least 30 people that day about methamphetamine use and production in northeast Iowa and Allamakee County.

The part of their presentation that gives me chills is listening to them talk about how dangerous people can become when they are high on meth. People become extremely paranoid and will often shoot at cars or people. One meth user even made pipe bombs.

I admire the work that our law enforcement officers do in order to keep us safe. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to learn more about this problem to do so. It is not going away.

Meth use affects everyone at some level. Because of meth production, we can not longer buy more than 2 boxes of cold medicine at a time.

Because of meth production, children are discouraged from bringing home-made treats to schools because baked goods can absorb meth toxins if meth is smoked or made in the home.

Because of meth production, we no longer encourage youth groups to clean up ditches because of the dangerous by-products that are left there after meth is made.

Because of meth production, our local law enforcement dedicates a large amount of time and money to this problem.



Teens and Meth

In 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that over 12 million people ages 12 and older said they'd used meth at least once in their lifetime. This means that parents of teens have a critical communication role regarding the use of meth.

So why would teens be interested in trying meth?

Maturing teens need to develop healthy ways of taking risks, especially when faced with new situations. But if they don't have a good understanding of boundaries they may think it is okay to experiment with drugs such as meth, not fully realizing the potentially hazardous effects.

Meth use among teens typically starts with casual use. Because of the pattern of rush and crash that develops from meth use, users may quickly become addicted. It is possible to get addicted to meth with the first use.

So what is a parent to do? Here are some ideas.

Be involved with your teen's activities, friends and other important adults in their lives. Being informed and monitoring your teen's relationships and behaviors will help you distinguish between possible signs of drug use and typical changes in behavior.

Follow through consistently with the rules and consequences for behavior. Teens need expectations. So when parents follow through teens will learn they are accountable for their choices.

Discuss with teens what's happening in their world. If a teen feels secure within the family and comfortable sharing their opinions, they are less likely to give into pressure from friends. Tell your teen to use you as an excuse to get out of an uncomfortable situation, such as, "No way, my mom and dad won't let me go!"

Combine the realities of his or her world with the information you have to help guide relevant and useful conversations. If you don't know the answer to his or her question, help you teen find the answer. Deciding whether or not you share your own experience with drug use is a personal choice.

Either way, face-to-face conversations are critical.

Model the values and behaviors that you hold important for your family. Modeling may not seem immediately effective, yet has a lasting impact on the values that teens develop, and the choices they make about drug use.

If you have the opportunity to listen to a meth presentation from our local law enforcement officers, take your teen with you. It will give you a chance to talk about how you feel and how your teen feels about the issue.

More information about Teens and Meth is available in a University of Minnesota publication available at the Allamakee County Extension office.