Tahoe teens win anti-meth film grant

A group of Kings Beach teens will become movie producers, actors and camera operators this January as they educate the community about the dangers of methamphetamine.

In November, Placer County handed out six grants totaling $10,781 for production of a DVD for the county's anti-drug campaign, "It's a Fact: Meth is our Problem." Sierra High School in Truckee received one of the grants, while Kings Beach-based Creciendo Unidos (Growing Together), which focuses on providing alcohol- and drug-free activities for Latino youth, received another.

"It is based on the idea to keep Tahoe drug- and gang-free. Our goal is to make it realistic and straight forward," Diana Cristales-David, a Creciendo Unidos facilitator, said of the video. "A lot of kids are struggling. It's gotten to the point where I know so many kids who have used or are using (drugs). I see it in so many families."

Cristales-David said the teens involved in Creciendo Unidos will work on the video, including those who have had problems with drugs in the past. She said the group will try to show the video in schools, at the Boys & Girls Club, the local television station, or wherever they can show it.

Doignon said the group will begin making the video in January and target it toward teens and families.

"It's been great to see the kids involved in a different type of prevention," said Placer County Community Services Officer Kristen Mann. "They are thinking out of the box."

Methamphetamine abuse "is the fastest-growing drug of abuse in all of our neighborhoods," Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner said in a news release. "It's easy to make, it's cheap, it's available, it's odorless and tasteless. It can be smoked and there's no odor. It can also be snorted, ingested or injected."

About 4 percent of teens in Placer County have used methamphetamine, according to Placer County Health Officer Dr. Richard Burton. That is approximately 600 children, Burton said.