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the Talon
give us your input
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July 27, 2005
Meth & Unborn Babies
Speaker: Penny Rose, FAS Program Director
505.486.6921 |
Why is it not illegal in the state of New Mexico for pregnant women to expose their unborn babies to methamphetamine? South Carolina is the ONLY state in the U.S. to prosecute women for endangering their unborn children by ingesting drugs and alcohol. We hear Governor Richardson address the DWI rate in our state and unfortunately, meth use is just as rampant. I teach Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Prevention in San Juan County as we have the highest rate of FAS in the United States. My program covers the drug spectrum during pregnancy as well, but after researching the rise in meth use here in the Four Corners, it has come to my attention that the effects on babies is quite similar to those babies affected by alcohol. All facts considered, I will be expanding my prevention program to focus not only on FAS, but meth babies, too. My program won a National award in November, 2004 and my personal history contributes to my knowledge of drug/alcohol affected babies.
New Mexico is a haven for the transshipment of illegal drugs from Mexico to destination points throughout the U.S. Meth is available in New Mexico in multiple kilogram quantities and the meth labs are a significant drug law enforcement issue in our state. A vast majority of labs seized are using the red phosphorus/ephedrine method of production and the effects of those chemicals to the unborn fetus are life threatening and permanent.
If you would like to see my complete presentation, please call Penny Rose, FAS Program Director, The Arc Thriftown, 505.325.8998 or 505.486.6921. I will accommodate night presentations and even a Saturday if necessary. Please be a part of the solution and help save the children! |
June 29, 2005
Ken Christesen, Director Region II Narcotics
505-566-2222 Farmington, NM |
The sixth monthly Meth Community Coalition meeting was comprised of a small but lively group as Ken Christesen Director Region II Narcotics gave a presentation. He engaged everyone with meth facts and figures and what he is up against battling the effects of meth use in San Juan County.
Christesen parried hard questions and by the end of the meeting all had a better understanding of where most of the meth is coming from (in great quantity from Mexico), how its use is a major contributor to crime and why the fight against meth in San Juan County is such an uphill battle.
According to Christesen, meth is one of the most addictive drugs available, and fighting it is three pronged: education/prevention, law enforcement and rehabilitation. Educating yourself, your children, your grandchildren about meth is a first step in possibly preventing another meth addict and the resulting horror show for your family.
If your group needs a better understanding of how methamphetamine use is affecting all of us, I can highly recommend Christesen as an interesting, knowledgeable and engaging speaker.
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May 25, 2005
Recovery is Possible
To read the presentation, click here |
The fifth monthly installment of the Meth Community Coalition saw a large increase in participants. With standing room only in the Commission room, the public caught one of the first viewings of the local documentary “The Meth Monster” by Justin Hunt and coordinated by members of the Leadership San Juan program. The documentary is a powerful tool for raising awareness of the impacts of meth in our community.
Paul Ehlrich and Kristine Carlson from Presbyterian Medical Services were joined by Brad Ulrich from Drug Court to make a panel presentation entitled “Recovery is Possible.” For more information contact:
Juvenile and Adult Drug Court
103 South Oliver Drive, Aztec, NM 87410
505-334-6151
The mission of the Eleventh Judicial District Juvenile Drug Court, San Juan County, is to work in cooperation with the appropriate community and governmental agencies in order to reduce recidivism and substance use/abuse and improve academic and/or employment status among adjudicated non-violent youth.
The mission of the Eleventh Judicial District Drug Court Program is to take drug addicts that have gone through the District Court and have them become productive, sober, law abiding citizens. This will be accomplished through an intensive program of counseling and urinalysis, with appropriate sanctions in place for noncompliance.
Presbyterian Medical Services
Totah Behavioral Health Authority
1615 Ojo Court , Farmington NM 87401
Phone: (505) 564-4804
• Primary Focus: Mental health and substance abuse services
• Substance abuse treatment
• Outpatient Care
• Special Programs/Groups: Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders
• Payment Assistance
• Special Language Services: Navajo, Spanish
Reena Szczepanski, Director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New Mexico provided an outline of their program and how to get involved particularly with policy initiatives.
New Mexico Drug Policy Project
1227 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 983-3277 • www.drugpolicy.org
Drug Policy Alliance is the leading organization working to broaden the public debate on drug policy and to promote realistic alternatives to the war on drugs based on science, compassion, health and human rights. The Alliance was formerly known as The Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation. The Lindesmith Center, created in 1994, was the leading independent drug policy reform institute in the United States. The Drug Policy Foundation, founded in 1987, represented over 25,000 supporters and was the principal membership-based organization advocating for more sensible and humane drug policies. The two organizations merged on July 1, 2000, with the objective of building a national drug policy reform movement. |
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April 6th
NM Probation & Parole Officers
Contact: Maria Hynes, 505-327-5138
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It was a lively discussion at the April 6th meth meeting in Aztec. The presentation by the NM Probation and Parole officers encouraged many questions - they were interrupted so often with questions and comments that we’re not sure they finished everything they wanted to say. Thanks to Karen and Dave from the Daily Times and Jesse Corona from KOAT, our efforts are slowly becoming more transparent and less threatening.
The fourth meeting served to recapitulate a fundamental problem we recognize is that our community institutions (health, law enforcement, schools, private, public etc.) are struggling to adapt or change so as to meet the dramatic convergence of the negative impacts in our community.
As a community, your input is crucial to the success of this mission. We provide a format and venue to listen, speak, and write about this issue with dignity, anonymity and passion.
Erick, 330-8483; Candy, 334-1039
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