Mason County Sheriff's Office: In Our Schools
- Home
- Contact Information
- Mason County Sheriff's Office
- Your Mason County Government Officials
- 911 (Emergency Telephone Systems Board)
- Animal Control
- County Board
- Circuit Clerk
- Circuit Judge
- Clerk and Recorder
- Coroner
- Data Processing Manager
- ESDA (Emergency Services and Disaster Agency)
- Health Department
- Probation Department
- Public Defender
- State's Attorney
- Superintendent of Highways
- Superintendent of Schools (Regional)
- Supervisor of Assessments
- Treasurer and Collector
- Zoning Officer
- Veteran's Affairs Commissioner
- Operations
- Search for
- News and Press Releases
- Resources
In cooperation with school officials, Mason City Police Chief David Coulter, Mason County Sheriff Wayne Youell and a Mason County inmate spent two days meeting with students of the Illini Central High School and Easton Middle School to discuss the pitfalls of using illegal drugs. Rather than lecturing to the students, Chief Coulter and Sheriff Youell allowed the 30-year-old inmate, facing five years in prison for the manufacture of methamphetamine, to explain to the youth of how his life has turned to
shambles as a result of his choice to use illicit drugs.
In a question and answer format, the inmate told
the students how he started with cigarettes and
alcohol in high school before progressing to the
use of marijuana, cocaine and then
methamphetamine. The inmate informed the
students that he became addicted to
methamphetamine after his first time of use and
talked of how he and fellow addicts would spend up to six hours at a time searching the pilings of carpet for more of the drug. “Lint balls, sand, rocks, and whatever else that could be found in the carpet and looked like meth would be smoked. Those were very bad times.”, the inmate told the students.
“I strongly believe that students who listen to the hard reality experiences of a person addicted to drugs is very effective in the drug prevention effort.It gives students a window to peek through into the dark side of illegal drug experimentation, use and addiction.It’s really about the choices we will all have to make in life.” said Sheriff Youell.
Afterwards, some of the students wrote anonymously to the inmate about the discussion. One student stated, “Thank you for coming to our school to talk to us. It made me think of what I want to do with my life.” Another student wrote, “After hearing your story, I promised myself I would never even try beer, cigarettes or any other drug.” Still, another student stated, “Thank you for coming to our school to talk to us! I think that hearing someone else, besides teachers and parents, is very convincing for teenagers. Especially since you have been through it. It actually helped me quit some things that I should not have been doing in the first place. I just wanted to thank you for coming to talk to us.”
How can you tell if a family member or friend is using meth? It may not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for. Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:
Inability to sleep
Increased sensitivity to noise
Nervous physical activity, like scratching
Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
Extreme anorexia
Tremors or even convulsions
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws.
Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing .
shambles as a result of his choice to use illicit drugs.
In a question and answer format, the inmate told
the students how he started with cigarettes and
alcohol in high school before progressing to the
use of marijuana, cocaine and then
methamphetamine. The inmate informed the
students that he became addicted to
methamphetamine after his first time of use and
talked of how he and fellow addicts would spend up to six hours at a time searching the pilings of carpet for more of the drug. “Lint balls, sand, rocks, and whatever else that could be found in the carpet and looked like meth would be smoked. Those were very bad times.”, the inmate told the students.
“I strongly believe that students who listen to the hard reality experiences of a person addicted to drugs is very effective in the drug prevention effort.It gives students a window to peek through into the dark side of illegal drug experimentation, use and addiction.It’s really about the choices we will all have to make in life.” said Sheriff Youell.
Afterwards, some of the students wrote anonymously to the inmate about the discussion. One student stated, “Thank you for coming to our school to talk to us. It made me think of what I want to do with my life.” Another student wrote, “After hearing your story, I promised myself I would never even try beer, cigarettes or any other drug.” Still, another student stated, “Thank you for coming to our school to talk to us! I think that hearing someone else, besides teachers and parents, is very convincing for teenagers. Especially since you have been through it. It actually helped me quit some things that I should not have been doing in the first place. I just wanted to thank you for coming to talk to us.”
How can you tell if a family member or friend is using meth? It may not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for. Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:
Inability to sleep
Increased sensitivity to noise
Nervous physical activity, like scratching
Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
Extreme anorexia
Tremors or even convulsions
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws.
Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing .
