ëClub drugsí working way into kids hands

By Barbara Brown
Newer types of narcotics, sometimes referred to as ìclub drugs,î including methamphetamine and heroin are working their way into the central Minnesota region.
Carol Falkowski, a nationally regarded expert on drugs and drug abuse spoke to a group of 40 last week during a lunchtime seminar on drug abuse trends in central Minnesota.
Called ìLink and Learn,î the seminar is part of a series of gatherings hosted by Community Partnership to educate the public.
Falkowski, director of research communications for Hazelden, gave the group some eye-opening statistics to ponder including the fact that before graduating from high school, half of all students will try marijuana, 8 out of 10 will try alcohol and one of every 10 will try ecstacy.
ìThe days when people thought drug abuse was limited or restricted to urban areas is a thing of the past,î Falkowski told the group as she educated them on what drugs are becoming more prolific in Chisago County and other suburban areas.
ìDrugs are very available to kids,î she said.
Another popular trend among youths ñ especially teens ñ in Central Minnesota is taking pills, Falkowski said.
She said often it is easier for youths to take a pill than shoot up with a syringe or try smoking or snorting a drug.
Falkowski said youths can get their hands on prescription medications, either those in their own medicine cabinets at home or from friends.
One popular pill is ephedra, which can be found commonly in diet drugs.
Methamphetamine has received a lot of attention in recent years because meth labs are not only illegal, they also wreak environmental havoc.
The labs are relatively easy to hide as well, some area small enough and portable enough to fit in the back seat of a car.
In 2002, 272 meth labs were busted in Minnesota in cases involving the Drug Enforcement Agency. That does not include cases handled by local or state police.
The increase is dramatic considering only 47 labs were busted in 1997.
In 2003, 39 labs have been busted in Chisago County alone. Thatís up from 21 this time last year.
Falkowski said parents need to follow their instincts when it comes to their children and drugs. ìAsk the questions,î she said. ìYou might end up being wrong, but itís better to really find out whatís going on.î

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com