Last modified: Sunday, July 24, 2005 12:54 AM PDT Dealing with drugs Andrew Cutler Argus Observer VALE When it comes to methamphetamine use, Malheur County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Reyna said she has seen it all. Reyna is a program coordinator for the MCSO and handles all of the treatment issues that goes with running a 105-bed facility. "Once they come here, we observe them to make sure they are doing fine," Reyna said. "And if they need any kind of medical attention, we make sure we give it to them. We'll let the medical staff know that this person is coming down, they might need to be looked at." Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. Meth releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also appears to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Over time, methamphetamine appears to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson's disease, a severe movement disorder. When a new inmate is brought to the Malheur County Jail, Reyna said, the staff completes a medical screen to get an idea of the person's background and what challenges the individual might hold. "The medical screen consists of several medical question. We ask have you done drugs? Typically the answer is they have done meth. We ask when the last time they used, and how they are using it so we are aware of that information. We also ask if they think if they are going to be coming down hard. If they say 'yes,' then that information is given to the medical staff. Sometimes the individual is placed in the medical area so they can be observed." Reyna said meth addicted inmates are not just "left to the wolves." "They don't just come in here and we say 'OK you are going to go through withdrawals and suffer the consequences,'" Reyna said. "We definitely don't do that. They are taken care of." Once an inmate is cleared by the Malheur County medical staff, the inmate is moved into the general population. Concern about meth abuse is growing locally and nationally. A National Association of Counties survey of 500 sheriff's departments in 45 states, released early this month, showed that abuse of the illegal, highly addictive stimulant has become the leading drug problem for local law enforcement. According to Malheur County Undersheriff Brian Wolfe, 47 percent of the inmates that come through the Malheur County Jail have had some contact with meth. "Meth addiction is real far-reaching," Wolfe said. "It's different than a lot of stuff. Once someone gets addicted to meth, they have to have that fix and it's real hard to shake. Lots of people have tried to quit several times, and unless they have a real good support group, it's very hard to do." Reyna said her staff spends a lot of time providing programs to help inmates and their addictions. The jail provides drug and alcohol programs, along with life skills classes. "They are six- to eight-week programs," Reyna said. "They consist of drug and alcohol programs, job skills, parenting skills, cognitive behavior classes. All that ties in with them helping cope with their addictions. It also helps them with treatment, and also with jobs when they get out of here." Wolfe said jails are not required to provide programs, but taking a proactive approach can pay off in the end. "Having these types of programs seems to be real beneficial," Wolfe said. "Most jails are assigning a program coordinator. It's one of those things that we can provide to help people stay out of jails."