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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September
24, 2001 Contact:
Cathy Wolfe,
Thurston County Commissioner, 360-786-5440; Donna
Bosworth, Thurston-Mason Chemical Dependency Coordinator,
360-786-5585 LOCAL
OFFICIALS MEET TO TACKLE METH PROBLEM OLYMPIA -- Methamphetamine production and use continues to increase in Thurston County and it has become a major crime and public health problem. With that in mind, dozens of local officials will hold a "Methamphetamine Caucus" the afternoon of Thursday, September 27th. The local meeting is an outgrowth of a statewide caucus that was held in Bellevue in August. Ten officials from Thurston County attended the Bellevue event and this week's meeting will build on that effort. According to the State Department of Ecology, Thurston County consistently ranks third or fourth in the number of methamphetamine labs and chemical dumps found in the state. Only Pierce, King and Spokane counties have more. Thurston County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe says, " The challenge cuts across all geographic, political and social boundaries. It is not only a problem for law enforcement; the highly toxic chemicals used to make the drug are a problem for the environment as well. In addition, meth is a public health issue, a mental health issue and an issue affecting children of addicts and drug makers. " Jurisdictions in Thurston County have been statewide leaders in approaching the meth problem in a collaborative way. In addition to law enforcement and the courts, Child Protective Services is called when children are present in homes where meth production is underway. Area hospitals also screen the children for impacts from the highly toxic drug and health officials evaluate the environmental impact on the home itself. "Methamphetamine has a horrible impact on users, the victims of crimes that users commit, meth addicts children and on the environment. That is why it is imperative that all of us work even more closely together to combat the problem", says Wolfe. The 30 or so people who are scheduled to meet this week, including Third District Congressman Brian Baird, cover a wide range of jurisdictions, social programs and criminal justice efforts. Among the topics to be discussed are: a review of current efforts, development of an action plan and deciding what the next steps will be in dealing with this crisis. The meeting is set to run from 1 PM to 4 PM on the 27th at the East Olympia Fire Station off Rich Road. |
