On October 18, 2012, our community will be holding one of the most critical educational opportunities that exists today. The Carroll Meth Awareness Coalition (CMAC) will be hosting their annual Drug Awareness / Meth Summit at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Carrollton from 8am to 4pm.

To give you a little background about this vital organization, the mission of the Carroll Meth Awareness Coalition is to provide support for the community in combating the epidemic caused by the use, distribution and manufacturing of methamphetamine and other controlled substances. It is the Coalition’s goal to offer prevention and education programs as well as links to treatment services and law enforcement agencies. The coalition consists of churches, schools, community agencies, businesses, local civic groups and non-profit organizations.

Additionally, this organization is not just focused on Carroll County. There are concerned citizens from Douglas, Coweta, and all over west Georgia involved in the CMAC.

One aspect that I particularly admire about CMAC is that it is a faith-based organization. Without faith-based support, the chances of recovery from substance abuse are less than when a belief system is used in conjunction with other help.

This year’s summit will address the dangers of legal or not easily detected substances, including alcohol, prescription drugs and synthetics which are changing rapidly. There will be an emphasis on the issue of “synthetic marijuana” this year.

As I have stressed in some recent columns, education and the willingness to face these issues head on are the key to eradicating the evil that persists in our community and destroys the lives of our children. I can assure you that this organization is at the forefront of this fight.

I hope that many of my readers will attend this event and spread the word. You will be able to see first hand what I consider to be the number one classification of problems affecting our community as a whole. We all need to get behind the Coalition with full force.

There are also regular meetings held throughout the year at 8:30 AM on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Elder Circle Community Center Conference Room.
Evening meetings are held on the Fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.

For more information about CMAC or the upcoming Summit, just visit www.carrollsubstanceabuse.org or email Inv. Reagan Clayton at rclayton@carrollsheriff.com,

If you cannot attend, please consider giving a generous financial donation to this organization.

Checks need to be made out to the Community Foundation of West Georgia with CMAC in the memo line.
They can be mailed to:
Community Foundation of West Georgia Inc.
807 South Park St.
Carrollton, Ga. 30117

I have been told that any contribution will be greatly appreciated. Your time and financial gifts are needed.