This story is taken from Placer at sacbee.com.
Placer County moves to keep them from trying a highly addictive drug.
By Jennifer K. Morita -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 4, 2006
Auburn teenager Janay McCubbin remembers learning about the dangers of pot, cocaine and heroin when she was in middle school.
But she didn't know anything about methamphetamine the day someone offered it to her at a party when she was 16 years old.
"The people I was with told me that it kept you up and happy," said McCubbin. "After I smoked it for the first time, I was hooked instantly. Before I even came down, I immediately craved it."
Now, at 18, McCubbin doesn't shy from telling her story in the hopes of deterring other kids from starting the rapid, downward spiral of methamphetamine addiction.
The alarming spread of methamphetamine use nationwide has prompted Placer County officials to put together a educational DVD aimed at stopping youths from trying the highly addictive drug even once. During an informational presentation to the Board of Supervisors on April 18, Sheriff Ed Bonner said methamphetamine use is an "all-encompassing problem" that destroys lives and leads to other crimes, such as theft and domestic violence.
In addition, a growing number of driving under the influence arrests in Placer County are related to meth rather than alcohol.
"The biggest (law enforcement) problem facing this county is methamphetamine," Bonner said, adding that he's trying to gather more local statistics. "This is a call to arms."
Last week's presentation was prompted by supervisors Jim Holmes and Bruce Kranz. Earlier this year, Holmes and Kranz each attended separate county government conferences featuring workshops on methamphetamine use.
"Meth has become a national crisis," Kranz said. "Unlike other drugs, it can destroy a person's life even after one use."
Holmes added that methamphetamine use also can impact local hospitals, jails and law enforcement resources, as well as a slew of social services programs.
"Our main focus was to find out what we're doing now as a county and also raise the level of awareness," Holmes said.
Health and Human Services Director Richard Burton said a 2004 survey showed that roughly 4 percent of youths in Placer County have tried meth. It is the drug of choice among people enrolled in local recovery programs, and 75 percent of meth addicts said they started before the age of 21, Burton said.
So a task force composed of representatives from Placer law enforcement agencies will release a DVD next month aimed at stopping young people from trying meth.
Placer's DVD is modeled after the Montana Meth Project, a massive campaign that blanketed the state with graphic public service announcements detailing the risks of using the drug.
Instead of expensive advertisements to the general public, however, the DVD will be distributed to Placer-area schools and youth services officers to use in drug prevention programs.
Placer County's media department, which videotapes public meetings, will shoot interviews with local adults and youths and produce copies of the DVD.
"Having something like that would've made a huge impact on me," McCubbin told the supervisors. "I probably wouldn't be here."
McCubbin, who described herself as growing up in a loving, two-parent household, said she got good grades and was active in soccer and volleyball as well as after-school art programs.
But during the six months she was hooked on meth, McCubbin said, she stopped caring about school, her family or friends.
She shed 30 pounds and instead of going to class, she spent the day hanging out at her dealer's house, smoking meth.
"I'd see people there that you'd never expect would be buying meth, from all socioeconomic backgrounds," McCubbin said. "Guys driving BMWs, soccer moms and kids from my school."
The craving was so intense, McCubbin said, she would sneak away for a quick fix while grocery shopping with her mom or smoke while driving on the freeway.
"I'd have a pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other, and I'd steer with my elbows while cars passed by," McCubbin said.
When she finally got caught, her parents had to search all over the country for treatment before finding a space at a Loomis clinic.
"It took every ounce of strength to quit," McCubbin said.
McCubbin has been clean for two years and is the picture of a typical American teenager, juggling classes at Sierra College, a part-time job at a Roseville skate shop and dating.
McCubbin said she's considering a career in drug counseling.
About the writer:
Go to: Sacbee / Back to story
This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use.
The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q St., P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852
Phone: (916) 321-1000
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee, (916) 321-1000