MUNCIE, Ind. -- A longtime patron of the arts in Muncie will use the power of his music to fight his community's drug problem.
Next month, Michael Martin and his band, The Beautiful Mess, will kick-off three nights of concerts called "Make Music, Not Meth."
The concert series will take place at the Canan Commons Amphitheatre in the heart of downtown Muncie.
Martin wrote his song "Take Your Pills" about his younger sister, who is now serving time ni prison for charges related to her drug addiction.
After he buried at least six of his friends due to drug overdoses, Martin decided that Muncie's children needed a better path.
"I just thought, if there weren't some of the people around that were there to help me, what chance do they really have?" Martin said.
The discovery last year of a meth lab in the men's bathroom of a Muncie Walmart continues to underscore the company's drug problem. According to Indiana State Police, Delaware County had nearly as many meth labs as the next four largest counties combined.
Muncie park officials say they will make Cana Commons available if it will help curtail the city's addition to meth.
The concert series will perform concerts on June 10, 17 and 24. The programs begin at 7 p.m. with a one-hour anti-drug component followed by a two-hour free concert.
