Town hall meeting 'a great step'

Two distraught parents were tailing their daughter around western Nevada County Thursday night, trying to figure out how to rescue her from the ravages of methamphetamine and the man who hooked her on it.

They were simultaneously tuned into KVMR 89.5 FM, which was broadcasting a town hall meeting about the drug and what can be done to quash the epidemic use of it here. Seizing the moment, they called in to the show for answers.

An inmate at the county jail took the opportunity to call in and ask how he could get help staying clean after his release.

Such questions can seem daunting on a day-to-day basis, but this week's forum illustrated that the answers were readily available.

"Come see us," said Warren Daniels, director of Community Recovery Resources.

His group finds ways for addicts to clean up. Callers were also urged to contact Progress House, the county's live-in drug recovery residence, and to attend Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous.

"We take care of our own," said Bob Rogers, a forum panelist and ex-con once dependant on methamphetamine. Rogers has been clean three years because of treatment in the county's drug court and CORR's new alumni association.

"Come to a 12-step meeting, and you will get help," Rogers said.

Richard Wilcox handles drug court cases for the county public defender's office and urged all meth users to utilize that option if they end up in the legal system.

"It can be treated, and we have a lot of successes," Wilcox said. "Addiction is a disease and not a personality conflict."

CORR family counselor Jim Burnett told meth addicts, "You are not alone and you don't have to do it on your own."

While panel members said success stories already exist and hope is already here, more money is needed to keep the momentum. They suggested county government and business leaders need to pitch in.

"All of my clients want help, but there's insufficient help because there's not enough money (for treatment centers and care)," Wilcox said. "If a program is less than 90 days, it's a waste of money."

Wilcox said more money might be coming from the federal government, because President Bush is a fan of drug courts.

"But we need the community at large to help pay for the treatment," Wilcox said.

Wilcox said Friday that the forum "was a good start and promising."

"They played it over the air at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility to all the inmates and it was well-received by them," Wilcox said.

Despite feeling successful with Thursday night's town hall, drug-recovery advocates said it was important to keep pushing the discussion forward.

"It was a great step, but great steps are only as good as the next step," Daniels said. "The next time, I'd like to see more community members there. We're in this for the long run."

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How to get help

If you or someone you know needs help with methamphetamine abuse, the following resources are available in western Nevada County:

• Community Recovery Resources, 273-9541.

• Progress House, 265-9045.

• Nevada County Community Health Services, 265-1450.

• Narcotics Anonymous, (800) 600-4673.



To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.