Coming Soon!

Does your staff need training?
Click here to see what businesses and organizations have already received training.
Contact info@rowanmethwatch.com

Rowan County is well on its way to having the first organized anti-methemphetamine program in the state. After an awareness seminar in February, sponsored by U.S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner and Rowan Business Alliance, Rowan County Commissioner Leda Belk felt the Department of Social Services employees needed more education. Inviting their social workers as well as the community, DSS held a meth-training program Tuesday with State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Van Shaw, who also addressed the February audience. Almost 75 people – representing local law enforcement agencies, local business, Rowan-Salisbury Schools, juvenile programs, health department officials, emergency service officials and social workers – attended the training session at Catawba College’s Little Hedrick Theatre. During the program, Shaw explained how easily meth is made and what common household products go into the process. He said common items, such as “improvise glassware,” including mason jars, and funnels and coffee filters are found in homes where meth is made. Cold tablets and drain cleaner are among the main ingredients to make meth, he explained. “But just the presence of these products does not equal a meth lab,” Shaw said. “But sometimes a lab doesn’t look like what we think of as a lab, but like a pile of trash.” Shaw made the point that many of these labs are not just in run down neighborhoods. They are found in family neighborhoods, hotels, rental cars and vacation and rental homes. Even after the meth lab is removed, the carpet and walls are contaminated. “So any of you who go into homes could unknowingly walk on carpet with the contaminated residue, get it on your shoes, and bring it home to your children,” Shaw said.

Other dangers that accompany meth labs include weapons, syringes, diseases, booby traps and violent behavior. Last week a woman in Wilmington was killed in a meth lab on Wednesday and her body was not found until Saturday. Shaw described it as a brutal murder. In 2001, law enforcement officials busted 34 labs. Last year the number rose to 177. So far this calendar year, North Carolina has already seen 106. “And the number is growing,” Shaw said. He noted that North Carolina is in the middle as far as number of labs. Last year South Carolina had 90, Georgia 250, Tennessee more than 800 and Missouri 2,800. “So you can see where it can go,” Shaw said. Following Shaw, Rowan Business Alliance Executive Vice President Richard Perkins introduced the Rowan Meth Watch program, a local initiative to unite law enforcement, businesses and the community in the fight against meth. Perkins invited everyone in attendance to the program’s kick off, where U.S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner and Shaw will speak and where the SBI Clan Lab and a mock meth lab will be. The Clan lab is the equipment the SBI brings to help clean up a meth lab. The event will be May 25 at 10 a.m. at the F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty St. For more information visit www.RowanMethWatch.com or call 704.637.5363.

Rowan Meth Watch Kickoff May 25, 2004   Rowan County launched the state’s first Retail Methemphetamine Watch Program in late May. Local, state and federal law enforcement, fire and public safety officials; political leaders; business owners and managers; educators; medical and health officials and concerned citizens filled the F&M Trolley Barn May 25 to participate in this bold step against methemphetamine production in Rowan County. Meth is an illegal, highly addictive drug produced in clandestine laboratories using readily available products obtained from retail, convenience and grocery stores. It is highly toxic and the process can be explosive. “The dangers of Meth affect everyone. That’s why we are encouraging retailers, public officials and citizens to participate in this important initiative,” said Richard Perkins, executive vice president of Rowan Business Alliance. In 2001, law enforcement officials busted 34 labs. Last year the number rose to 177. So far this calendar year, North Carolina has already seen more than 120 meth labs. “Equally disturbing is the fact that these labs put children and unsuspecting neighbors at risk by exposing them to the dangers of crime, toxic chemicals, explosions and fire,” said U.S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner. She challenged the all business owners and citizens to join the program to rid the county of methemphetamines. Tuesday’s presentation included a mock meth lab and one of the state’s two clandestine mobile laboratories. Darien South, a volunteer firefighter from Watauga County, who lost more than half his lung capacity after responding to a mobile home fire that contained a meth lab, addressed the audience. South spoke about the fire and the fumes that claimed almost half his lung capacity. A man who once dreamed of being a career firefighter, now can’t work or play outside with his three children. Other speakers included Wagoner, Perkins, Sheriff George Wilhelm, Police Chief Mark Wilhelm, District Attorney Bill Kenerly and Miller Davis Studios President Mike Miller. Before the event Tuesday, 25 businesses and organizations in Rowan County had already signed up to participate in the program. After the kick off, that number doubled and contiues to rise. The kick off’s event sponsor was F&M Bank. Miller Davis Studios, Inc. and CMR Productions produced the Rowan Meth Watch video. Innes Street Drug and WBTV’s David Whisenant contributed to the video. Chandler Concrete, Food Lion, the Rowan Partnership for Children and Walmart sponsored props and products for the day’s events.

---

Training September 7

Rowan Meth Watch Program representatives have kicked off the community awareness campaign with training session. Mike Miller did a training session for the Rowan Realtor’s Association on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 5004.

Meth Watch Trained Businesses, Organizations and Associations

Rowan County Department of Social Services (April 2004)
Rowan County Juvenile Court Counselors (August 2004)
Rowan Realtor’s Association (September 2004)
Rowan Partnership For Children (October 2004)
Rowan County Sanitation Department (October 2004)