Issues: Drugs

This website is on illegeal drugs (not the over the counter stuff), which has been a big problem everywhere I've lived. Yes, even in small town Morris- Minnesota! Especially lately as the big talk around town lately was a drug bust in the Coburns parking lot-the town hangout for teens! A 50 something old-guy from out of town was caught dealing drugs, which undercover cops caught him. I just attended a weekly prayer with the teen I mentor at his high school and one of the teenagers around told me 8 squad cars (exaggerrated?) and a undercover truck were at the scene (sometime in the last week of March 2004)!

This is somewhat an answer to prayer for this guy getting caught, so this won't happen again. However, it makes one think how many do not get caught! Yes, we can try to get as many advance technology to find these drug dealers. However, the main source are the drug users.

Why do people use drugs in the first place?

From my personal perspective growing-up, I first noticed the drug problem in junior high in St. Paul. They would go the "bridge" (a hangout in an actual bridge over a creek in a forestry/woody area across the street from our school) to avoid adults. The people I knew that did drugs came from severe broken homes (e.g. divorced parents, no parental guidance, drug/alcohol families, etc...). A lot of them smoke, which many started because of the stresses in their life-my personal explanation of why people do it!

Another reason is peer-pressure along with curiosity, which many youth feel a need of belonging! I remember some peers were hanging out and one of them asked me if I wanted a cigaratte; knowing the harmful facts-I said "no". Then one time I was working at Taco Bell, and a co-worker of mine asked me if wanted to have some "marijuana". Of course, I said "no" too.

Addiction on one "substance" become an addiction of another one. It seem like when one gets hooked on smoking, they become prone to alcohol, and then drugs or any other way around! I hear that in order for one to get over an addiction, they need to replace it with something "positive" because their body is totally dependent on the "physical". I'm no health expert, but former drug addicts need to replace thier addiction with something else="positive"!

Why do people deal drugs?

We live in a greedy world and of desperation for "fast money". Some are stress out because of their financial problems, so they look desperately for a way out of it!

My Personal "Passive" Encounter Experience

Unfortunately, our particular Taco Bell store was known as a drug haven, which many of my co-workers would deal drugs (users too!) through the drive-thru window! I remember one time a co-worker of mine would weigh some cocaine that was used to measure the ingredients on particular food items. It was crazy at the time, which never really hit me until I went to Morris. I was surrounded by all this "stuff" so much that it became a normal fact of life. Lastly, a sift-manager came to work one Saturday morning and told me how he got high on acid last night. Of course he wasn't feeling good, which he didn't feel like working that day. He told me a story of a guy he knew who was so high on acid that the cops couldn't get him down. Despite the small size of this acid user, he was strong as Hercules-the effects of it!

College Epdidemic Too!

While I was attending UMM (95'-99'), I was too busy in my academics and spiritual search of Jesus! However, I would encounter the illegal drug problem now and then. For example, I just found out recently a guy I knew dealt drugs privately, who now lives out of the state! Don't ever think college is an escape from the real world, the "real world stuff" happens in close doors or we sometimes choose to not want to see it! Trust me, I was an RA (97'-98'), which God opened me eyes to many issues/problems that I never knew existed here! As Christians, we can sometimes get too caught up from "reality" that we forget or don't know what's really going on. It's good to some extent as we are separated from the "darkness" of worldly "things". However, God wants to use us to be His light to the people around us that wants to escape their "dark" life! It's a spiritual warfare out there, which one needs to be equipped!

"The Harvard survey also revealed a clear relationship between drinking and other substance use: abstainers were the least likely to have used other drugs during the past year, while binge drinkers were the most likely to have used other drugs. Marijuana, for example, was the most commonly used illicit drug....more from The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention

Current Situation

I'm currently living in my 5th year since graduation at UMM in this small rural city/town. I've notice that living here to avoid city life is not possible. They have a drug problem here too as anywhere else-maybe less as severely! However, from my personal experiences so far, I can share many drug stories from Morris like I did earlier above from just working at Taco Bell in St. Paul alone. Since this is too a small town, I would have to keep these stories confidential for now! However, please feel free to ask me, but the main point is-the Good News!

Local On-Going Testimony

I had the opportunity to sit-down (morning of Friday, February 4th of 2005 at Don's Cafe) with a friend, who has been off of drugs for sometime. Yes, he still struggles, but with the help, accountability, and support of Christian friends-he can do it with God's help! His name is Clint, who grew-up in Lakeland, Florida. It was a community close to the beautiful popular tourist coastal areas of eastern Florida. Behind this "tourist image" community there is "hidden" underground life of the "drug-torn" war zones. He grew-up in a home where his dad wasn't really around, like for most "lost" kids. His parents got divorce when he was 8, and lived with his biological mom and step-dad. At age 12, he was introduced to the "devil"-Jeff, an older man that would be a bad influence growing-up as a teenager.

Clint told me the story how he first met him: Jeff challenged Clint to "knock-him" down with a stick, which he did and this won his respect. Since this time, Jeff and Clint would be working together on "illegal" stuff. Clint did drugs for the first time at age 13. Then at age 14, he ran away from home after his mom found out some "stashes" (drugs) in the house. Clint shared his story as the "racial-minority" in the Duncan Opportunity Center (alternative school), where majority of the youth were "non-white". He ended up getting beat-up and ended up getting in trouble for this. He would later get into serious trouble that his biological dad came all the way down from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota to attend his court case. The dad agreed to the judges' conditions that the charges will be dropped and be on parole-monitered..if he takes his son to Minnesota with him away from this drug environment. Well, Clint did "ok" when he came up to Minnesota, but wasn't helped by his dad and step-mom as they did drugs too. Despite Clint entering a drug treatment center at age 15, he went back to his "old ways".

His wife Steph started to refocus on God after coming home where she first started. Clint later came along through the help of others at the local church Steph went to. He met with the associate pastor-Neil, who ended-up sharing his personal story at Common Cup that connected with Clint. Before this meeting, they were supposed to just share about snowblowing, but they ended up talking more. Clint has grown to be a typical Minnesota outdoorsmen-ice fishing, bow hunting, and just loves working with his hands!

A year later-It's Sunday, February 4th of 2006! There is so much awesome praise reports where God has brought Clint since last year. I see him at church on Sundays-now with 2 kids (the recent was around Christmas last year)! He has personally been a blessing to me in many ways: help get my lock keys in my car (after a Sunday service last summer), helped a friend (UMM Int'l student from Japan) of mine move her furniture, pulled my old Chevy Blazer with a tow rope when it broke down, etc... Currently, he is helping minister to folks through our local church's ministry-Most Excellent Way-Praise God!

...to be continued

Baseball Players are "Human" too!

I was captivated this past Sunday on a special (Twin Cities local "sports" news after the 10 o'clock show) feature on Minnesota Twins, Tori Hunter. He "openly" shared about his dad, who is a "crack" addict. I then decided to look for resources out there that may be helpful to Tori...

Drug Free America: If You are a Child Concerned about a Parent
New Hope Recovery, treatment center in Chicago
Find a Chicago Drug Rehab Center

Minneapolis father arrested in baby's death It is the second case this year of a parent or stepparent being charged with murder of a child in Morris, Minn.
Chao Xiong, Star Tribune
Last update: September 22, 2006 – 12:03 AM

"A 24-year-old Minneapolis man was arrested in north Minneapolis Thursday, one day after being charged in the death of his 5-month-old son from Morris, Minn. It is the second such case out of Morris this summer, Police Chief Jim Beauregard said. "It goes to the heart of the community," he said of the cases -- the western Minnesota city's first homicides in 50 years. "It just uproots the community and its sense of well-being." Jurez L. Slaughter gave authorities different accounts of how his son, Paul M. Cohen, suffered traumatic brain injury -- including hemorrhages and a skull fracture -- on June 2 in the boy's home, according to a second-degree murder charge filed Wednesday in Stevens County District Court. Slaughter and the baby's mother, Marnie M. Cohen, took Paul to the Stevens Community Medical Center emergency room June 2. He had no heartbeat and was not breathing, according to court documents. He was revived and airlifted to Children's Hospital of Minneapolis, where he was removed from life support June 9, the documents said. According to the complaint: Slaughter first said he was in the bathroom when the baby turned over on a pillow; he said he found the boy lying face down with formula coming out of his mouth. Slaughter then said he was carrying the baby when he tripped over sneakers and dropped him, causing the baby to hit a footstool. Doctors told investigators that Paul's injuries could not have been caused by either scenario, the complaint said. When confronted with that information, Slaughter said, "I don't know what happened to my son, man," the documents said. The baby's mother was asleep in the next room, the documents said; her 3-year-old daughter from a previous relationship was also at home at the time. A funeral notice said Paul died in his mother's and big sister's arms. "Paul was a very sweet baby boy," the notice read. "His big brown eyes and curly hair made him special. He loved to watch TV, go on walks with special friends. ... In his short five months with us, Paul touched many lives and will hold a special place in everyone's hearts." Beauregard said Slaughter was not arrested until Thursday because authorities wanted to conduct a thorough investigation. The Minnesota Fugitive Task Force arrested him at 7:20 a.m. without incident in the 3600 block of Penn Avenue N., where he lived. The case is especially troubling because a second boy was also killed in Morris, Beauregard said. David Rutherford, 2, died Sept. 7 after he was allegedly hit in the chest by his stepfather. Juan Carlos Herrera-Serrano, 25, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder for hitting David so hard that his liver was almost torn in half. He also had cuts to his right lung. The boys' deaths are among at least a half-dozen deaths of children this year in Minnesota that have resulted in murder or manslaughter charges. Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391 • cxiong@startribune.com

Alcohol

Articles

This drug has been an increasing problem in the Morris Area and elsewhere, so I decided to do a profile on this:

-Articles

David Parnell had been up for nearly a week straight doing Methamphetamine (Meth). He was so sick that he couldn't even stand up - he'd just lie in bed using dope. When his wife Amy told him she was leaving him and taking the kids with her, he snapped.
Parnell grabbed his loaded SKS assault rifle, kicked off the safety and put the weapon under his chin. To Amy's horror, he pulled the trigger.
The bullet exited between his eyes, breaking every bone in his face except for his left eye socket. It blew out nearly all of his teeth, obliterated his nose and totally disintegrated his mouth. In fact, it literally split his face in two - one half of it was hanging down to his shoulder.
Despite these horrific injuries, Parnell didn't lose consciousness. He remembers talking to his mother who had arrived at the family home after a frantic call from the kids. "My mother was screaming, 'Why did you do that?' I was laying on the floor and I told her, 'I'm sorry, I don't know,'" said Parnell. "I have a beautiful wife, six wonderful kids and a good job. But I was miserable from years of drug addiction."
They call Parnell the "miracle man" at the hospital in Nashville. His injuries were so severe that he was written off as dead by the sheriff's department. Because of the extent of his injuries he should not have been able to talk - he had no mouth left. But, he spoke with his wife, his mother, the paramedics and the police.
This was Parnell's second suicide attempt. The first one, an attempted hanging, ended with a broken rope. With 18 surgeries resulting in the implantation of over 30 titanium plates and screws that hold his sinuses in and his face together, Parnell once again survived.
The biggest miracle of all is that after 23 years of heavy drug use, Parnell, 37 is clean and sober. This soft-spoken man from rural Tennessee is taking his message about the dangers of Meth to schools and organizations all around the nation. Since his recovery, Parnell has devoted his life to fighting Meth addiction.
As a full-time motivational speaker, he travels around the country to schools, churches, jails, rehabilitation centers and community groups telling his story in hope of deterring others from following in his footsteps. In the last six months he has spent nearly half of his time in Minnesota.
The Methamphetamine Education and Drug Awareness (MEADA) Coalition of Wright County sponsored a youth event in Buffalo on July 20 that was attended by nearly 1,000 people.
Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Meth can be smoked, snorted, injected or ingested. Made from common, easily accessible materials, meth can be manufactured virtually anywhere. Heavy users are often violent and extremely dangerous.
Meth is becoming an alarming problem throughout Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and MEADA:
In 2003 more than 500 Meth labs were seized statewide.
In some counties, as much as 75-95 percent of all crime is now Meth-related.
In 1999 there were 18 Meth busts. In 2002 that number jumped to 214, and spiked to 425 in 2003.
Many high school students say it is easier to find Meth on their high school campuses than alcohol Minnesota Teen Challenge (MTC), a faith-based drug and alcohol treatment program, has seen a disturbing trend among residents. "In our last survey of the adults enrolled in our year-long program, over 62 percent of those surveyed said that Meth was their major drug of choice," said the Rev. Rich Scherber, executive director of MTC.
Meth robbed Parnell of his health, sent him to prison and nearly cost him his life. He is reminded of his bad choices every time he looks in the mirror.
The day he woke up in the hospital he committed his life to the Christ. " I knew then that I wanted to speak to kids, the Lord had put that on my heart since the day I woke up," he said. "I thank the Lord every day ... and it's been over two years."
His life has changed drastically over those two years. "I want to do what the Lord wants me to do, and I want him to use me in hopes that I might find favor and I won't ever have to go back to that dark place again," said Parnell. "It's amazing what the Lord has done. He has blessed me over and over."

You can find out more about David and his ministry at www.facingthedragon.org

-Facts

Methamphetamine, from drug war facts

Does your town have a problem with Meth a e-mail forum

Understanding the Drugs Your Teen Uses, from focusonyourchild.com

-State Problem

Methamphetamine and Meth Labs, from Minnesota Dept. of Health

-National Problem

Faces of Meath

Hawaii Has Huge Meth Mess HILO, Hawaii, Sept. 12, 2003 (from cbnsnews.com)

Adult Christianity-Jesus 21

"Today Haggard admits buying methamphetamines from Jones, but claims he did not take them. He also admits getting a massage from Jones, who, Haggard says, was recommended by a Denver hotel. He continues to insist that they did not have sex."
Good Morning Evangelicals, from Christianity Today

-Testimonies

Graduates' Testimonies, from Minnesota Teen Challenge

" I’m Brad and I’m from Mankato Minnesota. Meth had destroyed my life; no one had hope for me, not even myself. I was a meth dealer and a meth user and I was constantly high. I was using three grams of meth every single day, and more on the weekends. In the last two years of my addiction, I averaged only seven hours of sleep a week. I’d sleep for a couple of hours and then skip sleeping for three or four days. I’ve also been homeless and lived out of my car."...

Michael Paul Testimony, from jesustribe.org

-Resources

Meth Madness, recovery links

I attended a community meeting recently (April of 2005) on the awareness of meth. They showed this very distubing graphic, but effective educational 20 minute video on this drug. Then they brought up a panel of 6-8 adults (young and old) to share their stories of their usage of this drug.

NATIONAL

Articles

One Way 2 Play - Drug Free! ...an overview , from Fellowship of Christian Athletes

*some cool steps to take
-Football

Waiting to Inhale: Luis Sharpe, from Phoenix Times

Report: Moss In NFL's Drug Abuse Programfrom thewmurchannel-New Hampshire

-Media Celebrity

Rush Limbaugh, from Harpers

Music

-Country
""Drugs Or Jesus" (lyrics)

In my home town For anyone who sticks around You're either lost or you're found There's not much in between In my home town Everything's still black and white It's a long, long way from wrong to right From Sunday morning to Saturday night

Everybody just wants to get high Sit and watch a perfect world go by We're all looking for love and meaning in our lives We follow the roads that lead us To drugs or Jesus

My whole life I've tried to run, I've tried to hide From the stained glass windows in my mind Refusing to let God's light shine Down on me Down on me

Everybody just wants to get high Sit and watch a perfect world go by We're all looking for love and meaning in our lives There's not much space between us Drugs or Jesus

Everybody wants acceptance We all just want some proof Everyone's just looking for the truth

Everybody just wants to get high Sit and watch a perfect world go by We're all looking for love and meaning in our lives We follow the roads that lead us To drugs or Jesus"

I heard this cool song for the first time when my housemate (Shalon) and I were watching CMT this afternoon (Wednesday, September 21st of 2005). I thought the video had an awesome message that folks in Morris can relate too!
-Heavy Metal/Rock
Korn - Head2Christ - The FULL video

"Korn Guitar Player turns to Christ from Fame and Drugs"

Testimonies

BryantHendricks, from it's prayer time

Christian's..countless A-Z

Power to Change

Steve Schupp's Testimony

Treatment Centers

Drug/Alcohol Abuse-Teens/Adolescents, from Keystone Treatment Center-the rural community of Canton, SD, 25 miles from Sioux Falls

Narconon Southern California

GLOBAL

*evidence of a universal/global problem

Facts

Economic Report from United Nations, from Drug War Facts

A Guide to Young People & The Law, from Tamesdie-United Kingdom

Resources

NEXT STEP II: EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS, from Australian Drug Foundation

Young People and Illegal Drugs into 2000, from Student Health Education Unit-United Kindom

101 Ways To Show Appreciation To Your Volunteers "Volunteers are the life-blood of many organizations and businesses. If you use volunteers, you depend upon their passion and commitment to get much of your work done. But utilizing volunteers is much more than making an appeal and then giving assignments to those who show up. They need to know they are a valued part of your business or organization. And they need to be appreciated and cared for, even as you appreciate and care for your staff. This book offers you 101 ways to show appreciation to your volunteers - that's part of keeping them. We also offer tips on recruitment, placement, management, and retention of these very special people." *With God's help!

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