Navajo County Coalition
Against Drug Abuse
 
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Drug Information You Need To Know

Drug Trends for Arizona and Navajo County

By Debe Campbell, Coordinator
Navajo County Coalition Against Drug Abuse
While the fight against meth abuse continues, Navajo County Coalition Against Drug Abuse follows drug trends in focusing its education and prevention tactics. With a rise in prescription drug abuse, the Coalition will focus on awareness for abuse indicators and proper disposal. With the ebb and flow of other drugs on the scene, the Coalition will modify its tactics to stay a step ahead of the game with information and prevention education.

The incorporated towns and cities in Navajo County are among the 40 cities in Arizona that previously passed laws to move pseudoephedrines behind the counter. As a result, large scale meth production across Arizona in clandestine labs declined, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, from 140 seizures in 2003 to eight in 2007 and three this year, one of which was in Navajo County. The Navajo County case was flagged by local pharmacies who noted, through behind the counter logs, frequent pseudoephedrine sales to one address, according to the Arizona Attorney General.

Eighty percent of the nation’s meth supply enters the US across the Arizona boarder. As it travels across the state, it only makes sense that the distribution process begins in Arizona first. Since Mexico recently launched significant legal restrictions on the rampant import of pseudoephedrines (132,826 kg imported in 2005 vs 45,524 kg in 2006) , super lab production of meth is beginning to decline.

To offset this loss in profit, the Mexican Cartels already are preparing to up the distribution of heroin and cocaine prices comparable or lower than meth today, according to local law enforcement officials. The “marketing philosophy” behind reintroducing these highly addictive drugs at lower prices, is to create demand for these products by the time the availability of Mexican meth begins to decline—swapping the demand for meth for another product.

While that may seem like good news—reduction of meth availability leads to reduced meth use—swapping addictions leaves us with the same issues: lack of addiction treatment facilities in the White Mountains, crimes related to drug use and addiction (including violence, robbery, DUI, identity theft, etc.) and a continued culture of drug abuse in our communities, which we will continue to battle.
Tips for Teens.
This is a great site that provides facts and dispels myths about substance use. Information is provided on long-term and short-term effects, physical and psychological risks, and legal issues. The series is written primarily for teens, but we think these brochures also are a great resource for adults. Please print them or order free copies by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) at 1-800-729-6686; Espanol: 1-877-767-8432; TDD: 1-800-487-4889. Share them with your middle school or high school aged child. Also visit the Drug Slang Dictionary for information on common drug expressions and terms.
They're Going to Pull On You
For more information on Tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, visit the NCADI Web Site.


Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet
Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

Download the Full Details:
Word      PDF As prescription drug abuse becomes a leading problem among American teens, Navajo County Coalition Against Drug Abuse rallies with the Navajo County Major Crimes Apprehension Team, law enforcement agencies and local Safeway pharmacies to receive and properly dispose of unused and outdated prescription and over the counter medications. Scour your home medicine cabinet and return them to one of the locations below for proper disposal or follow federally recommended steps for home disposal and identity theft protection.

New Federal Guidelines for Drug Disposal at Home
DO NOT flush drugs down the toilet. This practice contaminates our ground water, lakes and streams. Instead, crush tablets and mix with used kitty litter or used coffee grounds, bag and throw in the trash. Remove and destroy labels or personal identification from any prescription medication containers/packaging prior to disposal to prevent prescription identity theft.
Safe Drug Disposal Outlets in Navajo County Safely discard your expired, unused and unwanted over the counter and prescription drugs at any Navajo County Safeway Pharmacy:

Safeway    702 W Hopi, Holbrook, 524-2661;
20 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop, 367-5440; 900 W. Duce of Clubs, Show Low, 532-5656; 1601 N Park, Winslow, 289-4615

Schedule II drugs (opiates, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens) must be disposed at a law enforcement office:
Navajo County Sheriff Offices—Holbrook, 524-4450; Show Low, 532-6060
Police Departments: Holbrook, 120 E. Buffalo, 524-3991; Winslow, 708 W. 3rd St, 289-2431; Show Low, 150 N. 6th St., 357-5091; Snowflake-Taylor, 81 W. 1st St., 536-7500; Pinetop-Lakeside, 1360 N. Niels Hansen Ln, 368-8800