Meth Presenting New Threat In The Area

Some members of the Fond du Lac community got a crash course Thursday night on Methamphetamine and the toll it can take on its users. Fond du Lac Police Chief Bill Lamb began the panel presentation at the Goodrich Little Theatre by saying heroin and opioid abuse are still the number one drug threats here, but they are starting to see methamphetamine’s influence in the area. The Police Department and Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County presented the town hall meeting. Ellen Sorensen of Drug Free Communities says they wanted to educate the public about meth before it becomes the next big drug epidemic. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney urged the audience to talk openly to their children about drugs especially as they enter middle school and junior high. He asked them to make it a teachable moment. Toney says it is important to talk about meth now before it does become a major issue. Brad Dunlap who oversees the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit says they are starting to seize larger quantities of methamphetamine in their arrests. Last year they seized just over 1,000 grams and this year it has been over 4,000 grams.   

Methamphetamine is becoming another drug of choice for addicts in the area. Fond du Lac Police Chief Bill Lamb says 30 or 40 miles up the road from Fond du Lac law enforcement officials are dealing with more meth than heroin and opioids and it is starting to appear in the city. One of the local treatment providers is seeing more meth addiction among their clients than heroin or opioids. Lamb notes you don’t see as many overdoses with meth unless it is spiked with a more powerful drug like fentanyl which is a distinct possibility. Lamb says they are trying to educate the community about the danger methamphetamine can pose because even if you don’t know someone affected by it you could become a victim of a property crime or assault perpetrated by a meth user.