County takes a proactive approach to fight meth epidemic

 

It’s become the nationwide drug of choice, and even its ravaging effects that wreak havoc on the body and destroy many American families are not enough to slow down the addiction tidal wave sweeping the country.

California is one of the leading states affected by the methamphetamine epidemic, and though it was once thought to be abused primarily by people living in rural areas, all regions of Santa Barbara County have been left shaken in its wake. But the Sheriff’s Department, Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services and parents of meth users refuse to go quietly.  They’re fighting back with community outreach and education, increased law enforcement and rehabilitation services.   

 

“It used to be that meth was the dominant drug in North County, but that’s not the case anymore, now meth is the dominant drug county wide,” said Nancy Gottlieb, interim division chief of Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services. “The sooner we get people into treatment, the better the outcomes. It’s a treatable and preventable addiction. It helps jail overcrowding and it stops the imprisonment of people with a disease.”

 

In 2006-2007, 40 percent of clients entered into a treatment program admitted that methamphetamine was their primary drug of choice, and nearly half of the individuals being treated for alcohol and drug addiction were being admitted for methamphetamine addiction. In North County, including Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria, Guadalupe, New Cuyama and Lompoc, 77 percent of people being treated for addiction were admitted for abusing meth.

The county Sheriff’s Department has taken a leading role in the meth war as well. It recently received a $350,000 state grant to fight the growing epidemic.

 

“As methamphetamine use is an ever-growing problem occurring throughout Santa Barbara County, the Sheriff’s Department decided to pursue this grant in order to combat this problem,” said public information officer Alexander Tipolt.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, about 80 percent of drug-related arrests in the county are the result of methamphetamine use.

“Methamphetamine is the largest abused drug in Santa Barbara County, along with marijuana in addition to the nation, thus the high priority,” said Lt. Eric Koopmans, who wrote the grant that the Sheriff’s Department received.

 

Santa Barbara County also has been singled out as an area that qualifies for federally funded anti-meth campaigns. It has been running commercials with the anti message since early September, and will continue through February.

“It’s a national campaign that includes television and posters,” said Lisa Gilbert, county prevention coordinator. “It’s really important that the public be aware of our meth problem, because there is a problem in Santa Barbara County. We are planning to follow the national campaign with a local campaign in the spring. Both allow us to reach more people over an extended period of time.”

 

For more information on Santa Barbara County’s anti-meth campaign, as well as treatment and prevention programs, visit www.methresources.gov or www.admh.org.