Kern County
Methamphetamine Reduction Task Force
Meth Use in Kern County and the
Impact on Local Communities
Mission Statement
The mission of the
Kern County Methamphetamine Reduction
Task Force is to create a road map to
reduce methamphetamine use and its
impact in Kern County.
What is Meth?
 Methamphetamine
is a synthetic stimulant
that increases alertness, concentration,
energy. Meth triggers a cascading release
of dopamine in the brain that induces
euphoria, enhances self-esteem and
increases libido. Meth has high potential
for abuse and addiction.
Effects of Meth Use
 Methamphetamine
abuse can cause changes in
brain structure, brain function and memory.
 It often leads to psychotic behavior such as
paranoia, hallucinations and violent tendencies.
 Brain scans of meth addicts resemble those of
patients with advanced Alzheimer’s.
 After more than a year of abstinence, former users
may still show severe impairments in memory,
judgment and motor coordination. However, people
can recover from meth over time.
Meth in Kern County
In 2008-2009, an Impact Study examined
the impact of methamphetamine use in
Kern County.
Data collected included:
1)
Key informant interviews and focus groups with staff
from county agencies & law enforcement;
2)
Collection of statistical data from county agencies;
3)
A “snapshot” study in which county employees collected
data during the month of May 2008 on the number of
client contacts in which meth was a contributing factor;
and
4)
An ethnographic “case study” in the West Kern
communities of Wasco and Taft to document the
perceptions of local stakeholders about the impact of
methamphetamine on community wellbeing.
Meth in Kern County
A Few Findings from the
Impact Study
 Nearly
40% of all felony prosecutions in Kern
County involve methamphetamine.
 Nearly
one in three people who go to the
Emergency Room at KMC have used meth at
least once in their life.
 About
half the people in drug treatment
programs are meth addicts.
 Nearly
1 in 4 clients served by EVERY COUNTY
and LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN KERN has
used or is using methamphetamine.
Figure 1.1
Impact of Methamphetamine:
The “Ripple” Effect
Emergency Response
Juvenile and Adult
Correctional Facilities
Non-violent crime:
e.g., property theft, auto theft
Violent crimes:
e.g., domestic violence,
assault, homicide
Use
Disturbing the Peace
Child abuse/neglect
W&I 300 (protective custody)
District Attorney
Public Defender
Courts
Crime Lab
Court and Community
Schools
Absenteeism, lost
productivity at place
of employment
Prevention Programs:
Early Intervention
Program
Project 180
Kern County Probation
Graduation
from Matrix
Law Enforcement:
Sheriff’s Office
Bakersfield Police Dept.
Local law enforcement
agencies
Treatment Providers:
Kern County Mental
Health
In/Out-patient Centers
Human Services:
CalWORKs
CPS
Truancy, aggressive
behavior, disruptive
behavior at school
Recidivism
Criminal Justice
System:
Medical crisis
Meth
Hospitals
KMC
Ambulance
Paramedics
Fire Department
Rise in unemployment
and poverty
Costs to local
businesses
Children in foster
care, rise in out-ofhome placements
Dissolution of families
and neighborhoods
Loss of wages, loss of tax revenue,
loss of child support monies
The Case Studies conducted in Taft and Wasco
included:
 Public opinion polls in which a survey team talked to
people outside retail establishments:


133 public opinion poll surveys were collected from
residents living in and around Taft;
306 surveys were collected from residents living in and
around Wasco.
 Interviews
with pastors, law enforcement, treatment
providers, substance abuse clients; a school
administrator, and a judge.
Percent "Yes"
Survey Responses
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
90.2%
89.2%
75.2%
68.0%
Have you ever heard of the drug
methamphetamine?
Is meth a problem in your
community?
Taft
Wasco
60%
51.9%
Percent "Yes"
50%
41.8%
40%
Taft
30%
Wasco
20%
10%
0%
Do you personally know anyone living in your community who uses
meth, or used to use meth,?
 In
a study of people in Taft and Wasco who were
in treatment for meth, seven out of eight started
using meth as teens. Three started at 13 years of
age. All started first with alcohol.
 Every one of the eight clients came into treatment
through the criminal justice system, either through
Prop 36 or on parole.
 Seven of the eight clients were parents, and these
clients cited the desire to retain or regain custody
of their children as the primary motivation for
staying in treatment.
The Meth Task Force
In 2009, as a result of the Meth Impact Study,
the Kern County Board of Supervisors asked
Kern County Mental Health to form a Task Force
to reduce methamphetamine use in Kern County.
The Task Force includes public and private agencies,
law enforcement, businesses, schools, the faithbased community and concerned citizens.
Here is some work the Task Force has done
over the last 18 months:
Safety




Members of the Task Force are making
community presentations like this one to raise
awareness.
Communities that request it are being given
assistance in developing a local strategic
plan to reduce meth use.
A website, KernStopMethNow.org, has been
launched.
A meth hotline has been launched:
855-NO-2-METH (855-662-6384)
Business Support


Training in how to recognize the signs and
symptoms of drug use, and how to recognize
meth paraphernalia, is now available to
Chambers of Commerce and other business
groups.
Training in how to create and implement Drug
Free Workplace policies (including policy
around drug testing) is available to small
businesses.
Family Wellbeing & Support



Parents can call 211 for information about
parenting, as well as other resources.
A Public Information Campaign has been
launched to raise awareness among parents
about how kids are being exposed to meth.
This subcommittee is now taking on the issue
of pre-natal exposure.
Youth Prevention and Treatment



The subcommittee has convened a series of
meetings for agencies that provide mentors to
young people, and is now launching plans to
assist in recruiting and training adult mentors.
Student Assistance Programs have been
launched at a number of school sites to help
school staff identify students in need of
intervention, and link them to services.
Youth will be developing PSAs aimed at youth
to air on social networking sites.
Next Steps

The Task Force will work with any community
interested in developing its own strategic plan
to address meth. The Task Force will also work
with:




Neighborhood Watch groups
Churches and other faith-based groups
Local service clubs and organizations
Local schools
Interested in getting involved?
Contact Dr. Dixie King at
dking@tlcprofessionals.com
or 661-827-5245 ext. 250