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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Ind. Law - "Grappling with Meth in Elkhart County;" Basketball in Medora

From today's Elkhart Truth:

Journalists from The Elkhart Truth and msnbc.com have spent the last several months exploring how methamphetamine is affecting Elkhart County.

“Grappling With Meth” is a five-part series, along with accompanying photos and online videos, that is the result of their work. Methamphetamine, a more potent form of amphetamine, is a highly addictive drug made using chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia, pseudoephedrine, fertilizers and drain cleaner.

The high from meth can last more than 24 hours and is followed by a severe crash, where the user may “tweak” or experience “meth psychosis,” which is similar to schizophrenia.

Long-term effects include malnutrition, organ damage, permanent psychological problems, stroke and death.

In 2008, Elkhart County ranked second in the state for the most reported meth labs, with 65 labs tallied, according to the Indiana State Police.

Noble County topped the state with 80 labs reported that year.

Through September 2009, Elkhart County was leading the state in the number of meth labs reported, with 79 reported, according to state police.

The five parts are:

  • Sunday: Overview - Elkhart County initially got Mexican meth, but much of it is now made in local labs. Meth labs have become a common occurrence in Elkhart County.

  • Monday: Environment - Making meth is a messy business and landlords are often left to clean up an apartment where a lab was, or walk away from a damaged property.

  • Tuesday: Family impact - Meth is incredible addictive and often scars its users and their families.

  • Wednesday: Fighting in tough times - A look at meth use in Elkhart County in relation to economics and its use elsewhere.

  • Thursday: Treatment - Elkhart County may not have enough treatment options for addicts.
From the Saturday NY Times, a long story headed "In Rural Indiana Town, Even Basketball Suffers," reported by John Branch, that begins:
MEDORA, Ind. — Players for Medora High School have taken the court wearing work boots because their families cannot afford basketball shoes. Most smoke cigarettes. Some talk openly of drug use. All but a few come from broken homes.

Medora Hornets Coach Marty Young, left, went 0-22 in his first year. The 23-year-old coach is not expecting many more, if any, victories this season. * * *

Now 23, Young is not expecting many, if any, on-court victories during the season that starts on Saturday, either. But he counts wins and losses differently from most. “If they’re in the gym these two hours, then I know they’re not in trouble,” Young said.

Poverty rates are high here, college graduates few. Drug use is rampant, several said, and many residents live in ramshackle trailer homes strewn about the hills that surround the checkerboard streets of the town. In these depressed times, there is little to cheer but the high school basketball team.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 29, 2009 01:00 PM
Posted to Indiana Law