Georgia County Government - October 2008 - (Page 41) have one of the best track records of any in attacking the meth problem in our area.” Paris in particular credits the huge public awareness campaign not only to the grant funds but to another upstart organization developed in the county, the Anti Drug Coalition. This group was initially funded by the Union County Rotary Club, whose membership also saw the need to inform the public about meth. This local coalition has played a huge role in publicizing the meth problem. “We educated the public by saturating the area with billboards, putting information out through TV, radio and in public buildings. We used our local broadband provider, to create meth awareness on the Internet,” Paris adds. “We had a public awareness campaign which was designed to make people aware of the deadly nature of meth addiction, and we painted a realistic picture of what addiction to meth would do to you. In doing this, the drug’s obscurity was broken. “People were informed, most of whom didn’t know, what was in meth – ammonia, lye and a host of other toxic Clinic Director Troy Beaver with Commissioner Lamar Paris and clinic receptionist Lisa Moore in the New Hope Treatment Center lobby. substances that arise as by-products during production. Some are explosive, and the process also leaves lethally poisonous residues. The public got the message. The public had a place to go for treatment.” One of the best parts of the story, Paris notes, is that impacts on local crime. Formerly, Paris notes, meth addicts were UNION COUNTY continued on page 42 339981_Habersham.indd 1 OCTOBER 20088/14/07 11:27:57 PM www.accg.org 41 http://www.co.habersham.ga.us http://www.accg.org
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