IMPERIAL BEACH – Two county supervisors, sheriff's deputies and health workers drew mixed reactions when they walked door-to-door in Imperial Beach Tuesday distributing “get off meth” brochures and refrigerator magnets.

Some residents were surprised when the group strolled up to their doors unannounced, but most said they appreciated the advice on how to report drug activity or seek help for drug abuse.

Anyone with information on suspected drug activity can report it on the “meth hotline” at (877) No2-METH (662-6384), or on the Web site no2meth.org.

However, one woman who was taking a morning walk with her child near the group on Evergreen Avenue stopped a reporter and asked to give “the other side of the story.”

The woman, who identified herself as “Tammy S.,” said she was angered by the negative attention she had just watched about the event on television news, and said it was unfair to associate Imperial Beach with drug activity. She said it is a safe neighborhood that has shed the image that plagued it in the 1980s as the “methamphetamine capital of the county.”

“We were just known then as the little drug-beach area, but we're not that now,” she said. “We've got a junior lifeguard program, Kiwanis (club), Camp Surf and we are building a skateboard park.

“I've put so much in my community,” the woman added, “as have many of my friends and neighbors.”

Supervisors Greg Cox and Dianne Jacob and county workers walked door-to-door for several blocks on Evergreen Avenue, east of Seacoast Drive.

During a news conference before the visits, Cox and sheriff's officials said Imperial Beach is one of several communities in the county where there have been many methamphetamine-related arrests in the past year. They said the event is part of a campaign that will also focus on other communities in coming months.

Cox said the county has made much progress since 1996, when it established a “methamphetamine strike force” and launched the meth hotline. The hotline has fielded more than 8,000 calls and led to 163 arrests. Also, Cox said, the number of “meth deaths” countywide dropped to 174 in 2006, the latest year when such data is available, after surpassing 200 deaths for each of the previous three years.

“Meth abuse, however, has continued to claim victims, destroy families and eat away at communities,” Cox said. “In 2006, there were 5,811 admissions at local treatment centers.

“Meth hot spots exist throughout San Diego County,” Cox said. “Fortunately, communities in the region have recognized how meth threatens the public health and safety of residents, and are becoming involved in the fight.”

Nick Macchione, director of the county health department and an overseer of the strike force, noted that people use meth for various reasons.

“But regardless of the reason, the result is almost always the same,” he said. “Tolerance for the drug quickly develops, leading people to become addicted in a short time ... communities and individuals can and do recover from the effects of this devastating drug.”

Macchione predicted that the latest campaign will cause a surge in calls to the meth hotline.

“Every time we've had media exposure on the meth hotline, the number of calls has gone up significantly,” Macchione said. “The magnets, the brochures and media coverage collectively will provide people with more access to information to deal with meth problems.”

Jana Miller, an 18-year resident of Imperial Beach, was among several residents who welcomed the officials' visit and tips. She told sheriff's Detective Mike Nuemann that she was walking her dogs at night about two weeks ago on Elm Avenue near Seacoast Drive when a young man on a bicycle asked if she wanted to buy “meth” or “crack.”

“I said, 'Listen honey, I don't do drugs,'” Miller recalled.

Nuemann advised Miller to carry a cellular phone and call 911 promptly if she has a similar problem.”

Stacy Forrestal, 29, was another resident who welcomed the visit, but she was shocked by the television cameras and officials who came to her door.

“I think it's great,” Forrestal said about the visit. “I've noticed some problems out here.”

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