| Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc. Newsletter |
November 2009 |
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Building relationships, flooding Bakersfield with the love of Christ! |
The Impact of Methamphetamine
It is difficult to serve at Flood on a Saturday night without hearing a story of how methamphetamine (meth) has impacted a life. Some nights it is gut wrenching to see the devastation and destruction. How can something that can be cooked on your kitchen stove be so devastating? Transforming Local Communities recently released a study on the impact of meth in Kern County. The costs to the county and law enforcement are extreme. But it is the physical and social impacts both immediate and long term that break my heart. The use of meth is closely related to many negative behaviors: the neglect and abuse of children, domestic violence, criminal activity to support the habit, risky sexual behavior, and the eventual deterioration of the user's mental and physical health. Meth is powerful, long lasting and damaging to the central nervous system. It alters brain function. Short term effects include anxiety, insomnia, rapid heart beat, excessive talking and intensified emotions. Long term effects include increased risk of convulsions, stroke and heart attack. Meth grossly alters the user's ability to make decisions. Volunteering at Flood means you will most likely meet someone impacted by meth. It is my hope that by this short overview of the effects you will feel more prepared for that experience. In January, we will begin quarterly volunteer training seminars for those who desire to be more effective in their one on one interactions at the Saturday Night Outreach. Look for the date in the January e-newsletter. This month we celebrate so many who have made the change to a lifestyle free from methamphetamine and we ask you to intervene with prayer on behalf of those who struggle in active use and addiction. Pictured below are just a few of the miracles I have had the privilege of sharing life with. Thanks for reading- Kim Albers, Flood Director and Founder
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