Meth: One family's tragedy
Forum crowd hears about devastation caused to Pietz family
BAXTER -- Nearly 10 years ago Kathy Pietz's life took a tragic turn because of methamphetamine.
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"I never would have guessed in a million years this would happen to my family," she told nearly 250 people gathered Tuesday night at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. "There is no way you can possibly prepare for this. Because of meth my son is doing life in prison."
Her story and those of another son, an admitted violent drug dealer at one time, grabbed the attention of those attending the forum "Meth: A Community Crisis."
Kathy Pietz was born and raised in Brainerd and returned recently after nearly 25 years in St. Paul. She said her son David was sent to prison at age 18 because he took the life of one of his best friends.
Nearly 250 people gathered for the community forum on methamphetamine Tuesday at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
When her son Keith went to the podium to speak he turned to his mother. "You're right. This is hard," he said.
Then he turned and told the people filling the chairs in front of him meth is more powerful than they could imagine and more of a community epidemic than they realized.
"The first recollection I have of meth is finding this drug and dealing it," he said. "... We didn't care who we hurt."
He said parents with daughters needed to be particularly wary of the drug. Women can be vulnerable to physical abuse when under the influence of meth.
"They are taken advantage of harshly," he said. "I know this. I have done this. I hope your plans do work and you can do something about it."
Forum participants said no single option was going to work in combating meth and collaboration was needed. They called for longer treatment periods to reflect the amount of time needed for meth addiction recovery, more education efforts in schools and the community and more adult role models in children's lives.
Nearly 250 people gathered for the community forum on methamphetamine Tuesday at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
Presenters began with an overview of the problem. Andy Galles, Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division agent, said the major drug problem in the area is meth, which accounts for 80 to 90 percent LADID's time.
Galles said crystal meth, also known as glass, resembles chunks of ice or broken glass and is more pure than powder forms and seen more often. Galles said a gram, about the size of a sugar packet used to sweeten coffee, sells for $100.
Galles said the number of labs is leveling off but there is an increase in the quantity of meth being dealt.
"We are right now, on a very conservative basis, spending $1.8 million on account of meth," said Crow Wing County Commissioner Terry Sluss. He said there were three meth cases prosecuted in 1999. This year there have been 345 cases so far, Sluss said.
Sluss, county meth prevention coordinator, outlined the physical reasons why recovery is so difficult for meth users. He said while nicotine in cigarettes raises dopamine (the chemical that makes people feel good) in the brain by 100 percent, meth raises it 1,000 percent.
Meth hotline
Crow Wing County's methamphetamine prevention hotline numbers are 822-METH or toll-free at (877)-822-METH.
The public asked why state spending on meth prevention and intervention is not on par with spending on law enforcement efforts and punishment.
In response, Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, who attended the forum, said while it was not good for a Republican to say the state needs to raise taxes, he did not think a balanced budget with no new taxes was realistic.
An elementary teacher rose and asked for more training. Jerry Walseth, Brainerd School District superintendent, said education has a major role to play, but is not the only solution. Walseth said staff development time is scarce, but he said more time will be dedicated to the effort.
The more than two-hour forum, taped by Brainerd High School students, will be rebroadcast on a Brainerd public access channel.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.