Sheriff Youell and Inmate Speak to Students About Danger of Drugs

     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 .

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