Friday, May 20, 2005

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Meth awareness meeting set for this weekend

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Methamphetamine abuse is on the rise among residents from all walks of life in Fayette County, officials say.

Thanks to the Fayette Alliance Coordinating Teamwork, Outreach and Resources or FACTOR, residents now have a resource to help combat the epidemic that is sweeping the community.

FACTOR, a community collaborative group which seeks to improve the lives of Fayette County children and families, will sponsor a luncheon dubbed Georgia Meth Watch from noon to 2 p.m.

The event will be held at First Baptist Church, Peachtree City, 208 Willowbend Road. Lunch will be provided, and all invited to attend.

Fayette County Juvenile Judge Tary Schell, who chairs the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, is expected to conduct the program.

FACTOR’s goal is to reduce drug abuse among juveniles 12 to 17.

Sharon Herbert, who chairs FACTOR, indicated the group decided to host Georgia Meth Watch to fill a community need. She indicated the event will be an eye-opener.

“During the community assessment we did several months ago, people said they were interested in having a drug-free county,” Herbert said. “But in looking at that, we definitely realized we have a meth problem in this county.”

Herbert said soccer moms and everyday citizens are using the drugs. No one is exempt from the problem, she added.

“You could be living next to someone who is cooking meth in their kitchen and their basement and not even know it,” she said. “Everybody is affected. That’s why we chose this as our kick off event.”

Herbert said people are abusing the drugs to stay slim and as an energy booster, but the effects of the drug that can be made with products found at the local pharmacy are devastating. The drug can rot an abusers teeth, cause brain damage and steal decades from a person’s life.

Herbert said she has seen photos of people who after only three years of use, their 25-year-old body begins to look like that of a 75-year-old. Only two percent of meth abusers can actually beat the habit.

“The information that they are going to get on Monday is going to be very disturbing, but there are people who can kick this thing and get on with their lives,” she said.

Fayette County Department of Family and Children officials, school and court officials will be on hand at the event. Seats are limited, but anyone would like to attend is asked to call Sharon Herbert at 770-460-2569.