Tonight I took my family to a special meeting held at the local high school by the Lumpkin County Sheriff, Mark McClure. Sheriff McClure is a unique Sheriff in the State of Georgia. He along with all the local judicial system, from Judge Jeff Lowe, the Magistrate Judge, to Superior Court Judge David Barrett, even Chief Judge Hugh Stone were all present.
The forum was designed to speak to the local community, to address drug addiction, especially Meth. This drug is like a cancer, it is taking over rural North Georgia. It is a major problem and there is no simple answer.
The panel consisted of county commission chairman, school superintendent, juvenile judge, superior court judge, drug task force members and John Cagle, the head of the GBI office in Cleveland Georgia.
This forum was very interesting and informative. Although I am disappointed that the system does not try alternative methods of treatment. I know of a local coaching group in Colorado that offers Life Coaching to individuals while in prison.
Afterwards I spoke to Superior Court Judge David Barrett. I asked the judge about treatment programs and therapy available to the prison population. Sad but true, there is little help for prisoners. Maybe I need to start a coaching program for prisoners. It is being offered in other jurisdictions, maybe Lumpkin County is a good place to start in Georgia.
If you know anyone on Meth, as Sheriff McClure said, " you can't stop them, you can't make them want to change," All you can do is show them you care. Offer to help them get help.
