PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Though public response wasn’t as good as expected, organizers were pleased with the recent Community Action Against Drug Abuse Town Meeting, held at the Presque Isle Middle School on May 8.
“We had about 100 people in attendance. That figure isn’t as high as we’d expected but we were pleased with the way things went,” said City Manager Tom Stevens, a member of the event’s steering committee.
Representatives from various agencies in the Star City were on hand for presentations and to answer questions from the audience. Presenters included: Det. Sgt. Wayne Selfridge, of the Presque Isle Police Department; Holly Johnson, SAD 1 school health administrator; and Peter McCorison, director of AMHC’s substance abuse program. A panel discussion followed the presentations, with panelists including: Carol Bell, representing ACAP; McCorison; Reverend David Williams, representing local clergy; Chief Naldo Gagnon, on behalf of the PIPD and law enforcement; Eric Waddell, principal of Presque Isle High School; Anne Blanchard, principal of PIMS; and Dr. Jay Reynolds, representing The Aroostook Medical Center. Steve Richard served as the evening’s emcee.
Selfridge’s explained during his presentation that drug use is on the rise in northern Maine.
“Things have changed in the past three years. The drug problem has changed significantly. The real dangerous stuff has become the drugs of choice: methamphetamines, prescription drugs. Since July of last year, 54 people have been arrested for drug dealing in Presque Isle and surrounding areas,” said Selfridge.
Selfridge continued with a PowerPoint presentation, explaining what types of drugs have found their way into Presque Isle, how they’re used and describing each to the audience. Those drugs include cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, crank and improperly used prescription drugs. The most attention-getting portion of his presentation involved a film clip showing a group of people using illegal drugs.
“This was actual footage from a tape we obtained from a stolen camera. These are individuals from Presque Isle who were shooting up. This shows the drug problem is here,” said Selfridge.
Selfridge indicated crime in Aroostook County has been on the rise, especially burglaries, as individuals seeking drugs break into homes in search of items to sell for cash to buy more drugs or to steal drugs.
Johnson spoke next, explaining how the school system is working with students to educate them on health issues and teaching them how to make the right choices in life.
McCorison rounded out the trio of speakers, acknowledging that, “this is a very challenging topic that affects all of us and our community.”
“We can’t overcome issues of substance abuse in our community by ourselves,” said McCorison.
McCorison said by working together, the community could address the problem.
“The mission is to work together to promote the wellbeing of our community by providing health care, social and educational services,” he explained.
According to McCorison, substance abuse is a brain disease.
“Although initial drug use might be voluntary, drugs of abuse have been shown to alter gene expression and brain circuitry, which in turn affects human behavior. Once substance abuse develops, these brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use,” said McCorison.
McCorison went on to explain drug use has very similar effects as alcohol that, in many cases, creates the inability in a person to make mental choices on their own as an individual moves from chemical dependency to addiction. He said recovery is an individual, family and community process.
“It’s a lifelong process when someone gets into it. It doesn’t go away,” said McCorison.
A panel discussion followed, with the audience asking questions and panelists responding based on their field of expertise.
Many of the questions were directed at the two principals and pertained to drugs affecting students’ lives. One audience member asked what type of aggressive drug detection is being offered their child to address drugs on SAD 1 campuses. Blanchard responded, indicating policies were aggressive.
“A person who smells of marijuana is not allowed to stay on campus. They are a distraction. There’s no need for a drug dog at this point. It (drug use at school) hasn’t been an issue. But if the time comes, we’ll address it then,” said Blanchard. “Are they (students) using at school, not at middle school during the day that we’re aware of.”
Waddell said it wasn’t out of the question for PIHS to consider using the PIPD’s K-9 drug unit at some point but that as of the meeting, there had not been significant issues to require such.
Shortly after the meeting, SAD 1 authorized the PIPD to bring K-9 Dozer to the high school to do a search of lockers. While the dog alerted on several lockers, no drugs were found. Officer Rob Thibeault, Dozer’s handler, explained that while no drugs were found, Dozer could have picked up on drugs used outside the school that left the scent on items in the lockers.
Following the meeting, a second session was held by the steering committee to look at what the next step should be.
“We had a follow-up meeting. What the Steering Committee would like to do is leave the door open for a meeting in September. We may do another public meeting in October,” said Stevens.
With that in mind, Stevens said they’d probably use the same Steering Committee and consider the possibility of youth involvement.
“We’d also like to add alcohol and parental components,” he said.
In the meantime, Stevens said there is still a need for people to continually go for resources.
“Andy Mechalka at Helping Hands is one resource; United Way of Maine, with its 2-1-1 program – a statewide databank of resources for any resource – is another option,” said Stevens.
For now, organizers are satisfied with the progress they’ve made but will continue to look for ways to improve the community and reduce drug use.
“From the committee’s perspective, we think people were pleased with the quality of the event, but we do see some need for a follow-up in September, and another meeting in October,” said Stevens.
“We had about 100 people in attendance. That figure isn’t as high as we’d expected but we were pleased with the way things went,” said City Manager Tom Stevens, a member of the event’s steering committee.
Representatives from various agencies in the Star City were on hand for presentations and to answer questions from the audience. Presenters included: Det. Sgt. Wayne Selfridge, of the Presque Isle Police Department; Holly Johnson, SAD 1 school health administrator; and Peter McCorison, director of AMHC’s substance abuse program. A panel discussion followed the presentations, with panelists including: Carol Bell, representing ACAP; McCorison; Reverend David Williams, representing local clergy; Chief Naldo Gagnon, on behalf of the PIPD and law enforcement; Eric Waddell, principal of Presque Isle High School; Anne Blanchard, principal of PIMS; and Dr. Jay Reynolds, representing The Aroostook Medical Center. Steve Richard served as the evening’s emcee.
Selfridge’s explained during his presentation that drug use is on the rise in northern Maine.
“Things have changed in the past three years. The drug problem has changed significantly. The real dangerous stuff has become the drugs of choice: methamphetamines, prescription drugs. Since July of last year, 54 people have been arrested for drug dealing in Presque Isle and surrounding areas,” said Selfridge.
Selfridge continued with a PowerPoint presentation, explaining what types of drugs have found their way into Presque Isle, how they’re used and describing each to the audience. Those drugs include cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, crank and improperly used prescription drugs. The most attention-getting portion of his presentation involved a film clip showing a group of people using illegal drugs.
“This was actual footage from a tape we obtained from a stolen camera. These are individuals from Presque Isle who were shooting up. This shows the drug problem is here,” said Selfridge.
Selfridge indicated crime in Aroostook County has been on the rise, especially burglaries, as individuals seeking drugs break into homes in search of items to sell for cash to buy more drugs or to steal drugs.
Johnson spoke next, explaining how the school system is working with students to educate them on health issues and teaching them how to make the right choices in life.
McCorison rounded out the trio of speakers, acknowledging that, “this is a very challenging topic that affects all of us and our community.”
“We can’t overcome issues of substance abuse in our community by ourselves,” said McCorison.
McCorison said by working together, the community could address the problem.
“The mission is to work together to promote the wellbeing of our community by providing health care, social and educational services,” he explained.
According to McCorison, substance abuse is a brain disease.
“Although initial drug use might be voluntary, drugs of abuse have been shown to alter gene expression and brain circuitry, which in turn affects human behavior. Once substance abuse develops, these brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use,” said McCorison.
McCorison went on to explain drug use has very similar effects as alcohol that, in many cases, creates the inability in a person to make mental choices on their own as an individual moves from chemical dependency to addiction. He said recovery is an individual, family and community process.
“It’s a lifelong process when someone gets into it. It doesn’t go away,” said McCorison.
A panel discussion followed, with the audience asking questions and panelists responding based on their field of expertise.
Many of the questions were directed at the two principals and pertained to drugs affecting students’ lives. One audience member asked what type of aggressive drug detection is being offered their child to address drugs on SAD 1 campuses. Blanchard responded, indicating policies were aggressive.
“A person who smells of marijuana is not allowed to stay on campus. They are a distraction. There’s no need for a drug dog at this point. It (drug use at school) hasn’t been an issue. But if the time comes, we’ll address it then,” said Blanchard. “Are they (students) using at school, not at middle school during the day that we’re aware of.”
Waddell said it wasn’t out of the question for PIHS to consider using the PIPD’s K-9 drug unit at some point but that as of the meeting, there had not been significant issues to require such.
Shortly after the meeting, SAD 1 authorized the PIPD to bring K-9 Dozer to the high school to do a search of lockers. While the dog alerted on several lockers, no drugs were found. Officer Rob Thibeault, Dozer’s handler, explained that while no drugs were found, Dozer could have picked up on drugs used outside the school that left the scent on items in the lockers.
Following the meeting, a second session was held by the steering committee to look at what the next step should be.
“We had a follow-up meeting. What the Steering Committee would like to do is leave the door open for a meeting in September. We may do another public meeting in October,” said Stevens.
With that in mind, Stevens said they’d probably use the same Steering Committee and consider the possibility of youth involvement.
“We’d also like to add alcohol and parental components,” he said.
In the meantime, Stevens said there is still a need for people to continually go for resources.
“Andy Mechalka at Helping Hands is one resource; United Way of Maine, with its 2-1-1 program – a statewide databank of resources for any resource – is another option,” said Stevens.
For now, organizers are satisfied with the progress they’ve made but will continue to look for ways to improve the community and reduce drug use.
“From the committee’s perspective, we think people were pleased with the quality of the event, but we do see some need for a follow-up in September, and another meeting in October,” said Stevens.
