WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-Arab doctor who lost brother to meth now speaks in his honor

Arab doctor who lost brother to meth now speaks in his honor

By Barbara Czura - bio | email

ARAB, AL (WAFF) - Methamphetamine is the most addictive drug on the planet. There are many organizations out there doing their part on stopping the deadly drug. But for the president of Mothers Against Methamphetamine, it hits closer to home.

The wounds are still fresh for Dr. Mary Holley. Meth killed a person who was close to her heart.

"About 10 years ago, my brother committed suicide under the influence of methamphetamine," Holley said. "He was 24 at the time."

Holley's younger brother Jim is the reason she spoke Friday. It's her personal tragedy that drives her to educate others about the dangers of crystal meth.

"Over the past 10 years, it's exploded," she said. "We know a lot about methamphetamine, and we need to train the trainers."

Holley has been speaking across the country for five years. But the Marshall County seminar focused on the educating representatives like nurses, police officers or teachers, who could come into contact with meth addicts every day.

Stacy Moore is a nurse supervisor at a clinic in Albertville. Her clinic sees about 200 patients a day. Moore said she wants knowledge for her safety at work, but most of all safety for her two children.

"It's amazing that you can not even be aware that a child can be on it until it's too late," Moore said. "Even just simple things in your home. They can be exposed to even at school. It's amazing and it's horrifying."

Holley said it's important to learn.

"Knowledge is power," she said. "With accurate and adequate information, we can change our communities to make drug abuse decline even disappear."

"Crystal Meth: They call it Ice" will continue again on Saturday at the Marshall Medical Center Plaza Buildling. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the class will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. Anyone who can't make the seminar but wants more information on meth can visit Holley's website at www.mamasite.net.

©2009 WAFF. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.