Campbell County man overcomes meth addiction, helps others

Campbell County man overcomes meth addiction, helps others

By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter

JACKSBORO (WATE) -- A Campbell County man says he was able to overcome his meth addiction after being arrested four times.

Now he is helping others who want to recover.

LaFollette resident Billy Sanders is part of Celebrate Recovery, a support group at First Baptist Church of Jacksboro.

"I think the hardest step in your recovery program will be step one, stepping out of your denial and that you do have a problem," he advises others.

For six years, Sanders says, he was addicted to meth.

"To me it was the speed, staying going full time," he said. "I was that kind of person. I never wanted to lay down."

Sanders says when he was jailed for the fourth time, he finally realized he had to change.

"I'm putting God in this because that's why I'm here," he said. "I was sitting in this jail over here. It was the old one, not the new one. The pastors would come in every week and share the word of God and it was like God put me somewhere where I would have to listen to him."

When Sanders was released from jail, he joined First Baptist Church's support group, which had just started. Now he is one of the ministry leaders.

Celebrate Recovery is one of the only programs in Campbell County to help drug addicts.   

Sanders says he has been clean for the past five years. He devotes most of his time to helping others change their lives.   

As he puts it, an addict has to have a moment in his life when he knows he has to change. 

"I started realizing what I was doing to myself and what I was doing to others, that it wasn't really good. I was destroying myself and other people and their families," Sanders said.

"If you sincerely give everything to God and tell him you want that feeling, that you don't want to keep filling that void in your heart, he'll give it to you," he adds. "You won't have to search nowhere else for it."

Sanders says he wants to make clear that anything people say at Celebrate Recovery meetings remains confidential.

Anyone is welcome to come to Celebrate Recovery. The support group meets every Thursday night at First Baptist Church, 409 Main Street in Jacksboro.

For more information, click here or call (423)-562-5168.

There's also a hotline you can call: (423)-494-5801.

Celebrate Recovery usually has an average of 50 people at a meeting.

Detective: Busting meth labs is a weekly routine

Campbell County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Brandon Elkins says meth addiction is a huge problem in East Tennessee.

The state's top three counties for meth seizures are in this part of the state and Campbell County is ranked number two.

Nearby Anderson County had the most meth lab seizures.

Sgt. Elkins says busting meth labs is a weekly routine.

"I think it has a lot to do with income levels and poverty. But also, I think it has to do with our rural community, the fact that there are a lot of places to go to manufacture methamphetamine," Sgt. Elkins explained.

"We've seen people as young as 16 addicted and going to jail for it," he added. "The oldest person I've dealt with was a 73 year old."

Many of the addicts who are arrested return to the drug after they're released.

In 2008, officers busted 100 meth labs in Campbell County. That number jumped by 11 percent in 2009, to 111.

Deputies are working hard to stop meth use in Campbell County, but Sgt. Elkins says the sheriff's department can't stop the problem by itself.

He says officers rely on community groups, such as Celebrate Recovery, to help those who want to change their lives.

Treatment center for women

The first all-women's home for drug addicts, Shepherd's Place, opened in November in Jacksboro. It is directly across from First Baptist Church. 

Shepherd's Place can house up to nine women. Currently, four are staying there.

The women must adhere to strict guidelines. If they fail, they can't stay.  
 
"It's been very positive," says resident manager Barbara Jo Sterrett. "We've had our struggles. We had one girl who didn't make it here long-term, but most of the girls are doing extremely well."

The women are responsible for cleaning and cooking. Managers hope to fill all the available spaces there.