Meth Mountain!?! (Huntsville, Albertville, Guntersville: neighborhood, buy, school)

[ionlife]

The retired Huntsville cop who worked on my screened in veranda and floored our attic said that the problems were worse once "you went over the mountain." I guess he meant that Sand Mountain. But he said this area, NoAL was fine. Besides, boredom breeds problems. If you are involved in your kids' lives and know where they are, who their friends are, etc., then you will probably avoid the problem regardless of where you live.

I remember growing up in Northern Canada the big problem was huffing -- gas, any kind of aerosol, glue sniffing (seriously) and more. If kids want to get high, they will figure out a way to get there. Shoot, I remember a police officer coming and talking to us about drugs. A friend of mine thought you could smoke parsley and get high so he tried it! Stupid, but true.

And maybe you're right: a dry county? Bored kids? People? Why not sell beer/wine?

Speaking of which, there was an article in the paper today that said there's a coalition of universities (none from AL) nationwide that is lobbying to lower the drinking age to 18 to avoid binge drinking of minors.

It's like chocolate and diets. If you are told you CAN'T have it, suddenly it becomes a temptation, eh?

[PeytonC]

Originally Posted by SheRollTide

I grew up in Guntersville, I moved away many years ago. It was kind of trashy then.

Um, must be the area you grew up in - maybe East Lake? Rayburn? I also grew up in Gville and "trashy" is not an adjective that comes to mind. Especially when compared to Ft Payne?! That has got to be the joke of the day. Not to get into a town war, but I think it is way off base to tell a possible future resident that a town is (or was) trashy, considering the lakefront developments and exclusive communities in and around the town. Your experience may have been trashy, but the town overall is not trashy. Every town has it's areas that can be seen as undesirable.

[biloxigirl27]

I live in Albertville and I know the young couple that was on the show. Here is some correct information. Marshall Co is not dry. We have many ABC stores and bars around here. The show was filmed all over Albertville. I knew about three months about when they was here filming. Guntersville has just as big as problem with meth as Albertville. It is just as big of a problem with the low income and high income families. You would be shocked to find out the upper class mothers that do it just to make it throught the day. There have been meth lads found in the high end areas. For the person that said that it is not a problem here, that they never her there family talk about it, well then your family must live in a shoebox. My husband and I have only lived here five years due to his job moving us out here and all we have heard about is meth, meth, meth. We live in the country club estates and it is sad to see how many people are effect buy meth. I can say I don't think that I have every meet a family that has not been effect buy meth. I was out at a football party last year and a really nice lady that I was talking to just ask me if I wanted to buy some. I thought she was joking and when I told her I do not do that she was shocked. If you would see this lady out on the street you would never think she would do meth. My husband and I can't take it anymore and we are moving out of state cause we do not want our kids growing up here and trust me right now you don't either!

[PeytonC]

It all depends on who you associate with, sorry to say. Sure there is a big meth problem in Marshall County, but as stated by another poster, if you raise your kids correctly and have an active role in their lives, problems can be avoided. It's not like you drive down the streets in Marshall County and see meth heads everywhere. The problem is definitely affecting all classes of people, but there are places where the problem is worse. BTW, Marshall County is dry. You may see the package stores in the city limits of Aville and Gville, which are wet.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by PeytonC

It all depends on who you associate with, sorry to say. Sure there is a big meth problem in Marshall County, but as stated by another poster, if you raise your kids correctly and have an active role in their lives, problems can be avoided. It's not like you drive down the streets in Marshall County and see meth heads everywhere. The problem is definitely affecting all classes of people, but there are places where the problem is worse. BTW, Marshall County is dry. You may see the package stores in the city limits of Aville and Gville, which are wet.

Well heck==here in Madison my DH saw three guys in a car trying to get "cold meds" at the CVS when he was trying to fill my medicine after my anaphylactic reaction to the wasp... the pharmacist turned them away...

drugs--evil

[AUmomx2]

I watched part of "Meth Mountain" last night. I was shocked and upset by the program. I was born and raised about 20 miles from Sand Mountain and was never exposed to drugs. You do not inherit a predisposition for meth use because of your zip code…it’s a choice. Marshall County is not "trashy"; however, I’m sure you can find "trash" if you are looking for it. I am a hosp social worker in South AL. We often (one time is too many) have babies born positive for meth and crack just like every other hosp in the U.S. Child protective services nationwide are overwhelmed with children from drug addicted parents (I did catch that part of the show). Yes, it is true meth is the drug of choice in AL (crack lost first place approx two years ago) but the percentage of drug use is not higher than the national average. MS (biloxigirl…I’m assuming that is your home state) and FL (SheRollTide) just happen to prefer crack. Just keep in mind meth use is widespread and growing in MS and FL; you may find A & E filming the sequel in your backyard. Look for the cameras biloxigirl; regardless of where you decide to live. By the way...FL is "awesome" with one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation; not to mention the number of pedophiles that call FL home (ex. Jessica’s Law...thanks for your efforts). AL is a great place to raise children; but parents must take the responsibility to guide children and to raise them right. Now I feel better…so I will get off my soap box.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by biloxigirl27

I live in Albertville and I know the young couple that was on the show. Here is some correct information. Marshall Co is not dry. We have many ABC stores and bars around here.

Marshall county is DRY, Guntersville and Albertville are wet cities in a dry county. Cities in dry counties can vote to sell alcohol with the county still being 'dry'. Arab is dry with a vote coming up soon to try to become 'wet'.

I watched that program also. I got the impression the reason they chose Sand Mountain is because they haven't been able to slow down the production of meth due to the rural location of most meth labs. It is easy to make and cheap unlike other drugs

It really painted a picture of this area as nothing but run down mobile homes.

I know meth is a problem in this area but not everyone is a meth addict. It is a horrible drug because it is so addictive, just like heroin. It also has a very low recovery rate.

All I can tell you is I live in Marshall county and I have not met or heard of anyone who is a meth addict. Unlike in FL I knew ppl who did cocaine and had relatives who were addicted to cocaine and/or oxy/herion.

[caution]

my general opinion of shows like this:

if you go looking for the worst in society with a camera and time on your hands, you will find it.....

[DvlsAdvc8]

Originally Posted by cglover

It's like chocolate and diets. If you are told you CAN'T have it, suddenly it becomes a temptation, eh?

This is 100% true. I drank like a fish as a teenager at every opportunity. Then I turned 21 and had a big party. Now, I could drink whenever and wherever I wanted. Novelty gone... I barely ever drank.

If you can't have it, you have a propensity to over consume when its available (binge drinking). When suddenly its available en masse, you have a couple drinks and that's it... unless there is some kind of other special event you're celebrating (ie spring break, St. Patrick's etc).

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by DvlsAdvc8

When suddenly its available en masse, you have a couple drinks and that's it... unless there is some kind of other special event you're celebrating (ie spring break, St. Patrick's etc).

(sunrise, sunset, high noon, 5 o'clock, etc.)