Free program will focus on awareness, prevention

Tell-tale signs of methamphetamine usage will be among the topics.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The United Methodist Community Center and Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth are sponsoring a methamphetamine awareness training program.
The event, which will be March 24, is open for anyone interested in preventing and stopping methamphetamine use in the greater Youngstown area. The program will be held at the United Methodist Community Center, 334 N. Pearl St.
It will start at 11:30 a.m. and will last about two hours. Lunch will be provided. The training is free, but advance registration is necessary.
To register, call (330) 743-5149, ext. 226, and ask for Maybelline Jones. Reservations should be made by Friday.
There will be two speakers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said Lenore Moore, program spokeswoman. One will focus on the impact meth has on lives as well as general information about the drug, Moore said. The other will speak primarily about prevention, intervention and signs and signals that meth may be in a problem in the area.
"It is going to be a meth awareness course," Moore said. "It will focus on how it's made, how people buy it and what to watch for."
Other facts
The Rev. Bruce McLaughlin, member of the center's public relations committee, called this workshop a blessing for the community.
"Meth is starting to creep into this area," the Rev. Mr. McLaughlin said. "I think it is important for people to be aware of what it is and how it damages people."
Meth is considered a "dirty drug," meaning it is not filtered or regulated in any way, Moore said. Meth has various names, depending on potency. It may be referred to as crank, speed, ice, crystal, glass or tina, she said.
Meth is becoming a major problem in multiple Ohio communities, Moore said. It is produced in make-shift labs, usually in a house, she said. It is relatively easy to make and can be made in a soda bottle.
Signs that a family member is using meth include dilated pupils, flushed skin, dry mouth, sweating, tumors and delusion, Moore said. Meth can be smoked, injected, snorted or taken orally, she said.
To register for this event, please call (330) 743-5149, ext. 226, and ask for Maybelline Jones. Reservations should be made by Friday.