Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Online -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 12/22/2003
Last Visited: 12/22/2003
Tim Willis, the attorney who prosecutes cases that come out of the drug task force's arrests, said he supports another avenue to address the methamphetamine problem.
"I think it's an excellent idea," Willis said."I can see a very important role for such a group."
People probably know about methamphetamine in general but may not know about the specifics of the drugs, its affects and the dangers associated with its manufacture, he said, and the coalition's work might lead to more resources for prevention and treatment.
Willis said he doesn't have figures on the number of meth cases in Coles County, and ECITF officers weren't available to give the information or to comment on the coalition's efforts.
But Willis said he thinks the problem isn't decreasing yet, and the severity of the cases that the county's experiencing, in fact, is increasing, a pattern that seems to develop in areas with a continuing meth problem.There have been fires caused by the meth manufacturing process that have injured people during the past year, something that wasn't seen earlier, he noted.
"This year, it's been far more serious as far as injuries or the potential for injuries," Willis said."That's not unexpected."