Workshop outlines problems in combatting drug scourge (New Mexico)

Focus on meth

Alamogordo Daily News
By Christa Haynes, Staff Writer


LISTENING CAREFULLY -- Rep. Steve Pearce, center, joins the members of the Meth Research Group as they listen to Larry Wisecup from Children, Youth and Family Development during a methamphetamine awareness workshop Wednesday morning at the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center. (J.R. Oppenheim/Daily News)

Rep. Steve Pearce was in Alamogordo Wednesday on the fifth stop in an awareness tour through New Mexico to aid communities in dealing with methamphetamine. Pearce opened the meeting with somber remarks about the reality of meth use, stating that where other drugs have a cure rate of about 40 percent, abusers of meth only have a 10 percent chance of beating the addiction.

Of that 10 percent, more than 70 percent of "recovered" abusers will relapse. Since his election to office in 2002, Pearce said he has recognized the importance of several of New Mexico's issues. One in particular stands out.

"As we look at the range of social issues that affect us, the one that continues to stand out is the use of methamphetamines," he said.

Pearce closed his remarks with a sobering account of how formidable an addiction to meth can be he recently learned that prisoners will trade their commissary privileges for the urine of new inmates that are addicted to meth.

"The body only absorbs about 20 percent of the chemicals," Pearce noted. "Now I imagine my daughter or granddaughter going to those lengths to feed this addiction É if I can impart one message today don't think that Washington can cure this problem. We'll only send money and pass laws. You have the responsibility to take back your community."

Pearce turned the meeting over to Alamogordo Mayor Don Carroll, who advised attendees the city is not only aware of the problem, but the community is willing to step up and do something about it. The recent Meth Awareness Week, held from April 17 through 21 this year, was viewed as a success, he said. Preparations for a Meth Awareness Month are in the works.

Lee Ann Loney spoke about the Methamphetamine Coalition, a group formed last year when Otero County Youth Empowerment Association was approached by El Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Center for Border Health Research to participate in a program called Community Based Participatory Research.

"CBPR empowers communities through knowledge, and transforms that knowledge into action," she said. The CBPR is in the process of analyzing data from surveys of residents understanding of methamphetamine issues

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