Methamphetamine Resources in Columbia County

For Support Who Do You Call? For assessment or counseling: Columbia Community Mental Health 800-294-5211 or 503/397-5211 Pathways 503/366-4540 For Families: Al-Anon 800/ 344-2666 Narcotics Anonymous-Longview 866/435-7701 National Hope Line: 800-784-2433 Suicide Prevention 800-273-TALK Teen Crisis Hotline 800-660-0934 Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Hotline-RAINN 800-656-4673 Teens Helping Teens Youthline: 877-553-TEEN Linea de Ayuda-informacion de adicciones: 877-515-7848 Columbia County: Women's Resource Center 503-397-6161 Alcoholics Anonymous 503/366-0667 Columbia County Public Health District 503/397-4651 CRYSTAL METH ANONYMOUS meets at CCMH Creekside on Wednesday nights at 6:30 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAMILY RESPONSE TO METH Things Families Should Know: A family member should not blame himself or a family member if he has a substance abuse problem. The important thing is to act now to find the best available services to help them stop using drugs and alcohol and begin building a drug-free future What is Chemical Dependency? Chemical dependency is a psychological, and sometimes physical, need to use alcohol or other drugs that doesn't go away even when using them causes negative consequences. It is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors that influence its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. Primary, Chronic,& Progressive Dependency: Chemical dependency is a primary disease. It is a disease in addition to, and separate from, other medical problems that may be associated with it. Chemical dependency is not a symptom of an underlying disease state, and it can happen to anyone. Chemical dependency is chronic. A person who has developed the disease of chemical dependency will have it for life. This condition can't be cured, but it can be treated. Chemical dependency is progressive. The physical, emotional, and social problems associated with chemical dependency continue to get worse unless alcohol and/or drug use is stopped. Those problems are often cumulative and appear to progress as the use of chemicals continues. Left untreated, the disease results in premature death from associated health problems, accidents or other traumatic events. Risks to children include: -Exposure to explosive, flammable, toxic ingredients stored in kitchen cabinets, bathrooms and bedrooms -Access to meth and paraphernalia (including needles) -Presence of loaded weapons in the home and booby traps (due to paranoia of meth users) -Physical and sexual abuse -Exposure to high risk populations (sexual abusers, violent drug users) -Neglect including poor nutrition and poor living conditions -Presence of pornography If a pregnant woman uses meth, the baby may experience: -Premature birth -Low birth weight -Cerebral injuries -Cerebral palsy and paralysis -Dopamine depletion -Abnormal sleep patterns -Poor feeding -Limpness -Apparent depression -Shaking and tremors -Irritability -Fits of rage -Sensitivity to stimuli including human touch and regular light -Coordination problems In cases where an intervention is done and the child receives appropriate services, the child may not experience any significant long-term effects. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WEBSITES with information about Methamphetamine Trends in Oregon: http://www.methresources.gov/antimeth/pdfs/Oregon_fs.pdf Oregon Drug Alliance for Drug Endangered Children website http://www.oregondec.org/ Find treatment: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/faq.htm Research: http://www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/crystalmeth/docs/met h_literature_index.pdf 448 pages NIDA note Information: http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/NNCollections/NNClubDrugs.pdf 68 pages Physical environment and housing: Columbia County Meth Task Force brochure http://www.co.columbia.or.us/ccccf/pdfs/methhousesbrochure.pdf (CBS4) Industrial hygienists, real estate agents and potential home buyers can now use a new and fairly simple way to find out if methamphetamine has been cooked or even smoked in a house. The instant response meth test works similarly to other in-home tests, and the results are immediate. http://www.meth-wipe.com/ Parents who use meth may exhibit: -Extreme mood fluctuations -Violent behavior -Depression -Poor impulse control -Lack of attention to hygiene -Acute psychotic episodes -Poly-drug abuse As meth use continues, the parent is often unable to meet the basic needs of the child. Due to changes in brain chemistry, the parent may lose the capacity to provide appropriate care for children in the home. Children whose parents use or manufacture meth may experience: -Respiratory problems -Delayed speech and language skills -Elevated risk for kidney problems and leukemia -Malnourishment -Poor school performance/attendance problems -Isolation -Lack of immunizations/medical care -Poor dental health -Hyperactivity/attention deficit disorders -Lice -Obesity -Developmental problems -Violent behavior -Drug usage -Lack of boundaries/easy attachment to strangers Children who ingest meth may exhibit: Agitation, inconsolability, tachycardia, respiratory problems (such as asthma), nausea, protracted vomiting, Hyperthermia, ataxia, roving eye movements, seizures, and headaches.