Pubdate: Mon, 22 Aug 2005
Source: Newsweek (US)
Copyright: 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.msnbc.com/news/NW-front_Front.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/309
Author: Joni Tanaciev
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1226/a03.html

THE METH SCOURGE

I take offense at the comment by Tom Riley, spokesman for the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy, in your expose on methamphetamines.

It is the ignorance of people like him, believing that people are " 'crying 
meth' because it is a hot, new drug" rather than uncovering the truth and 
doing something about it, that has led this country to its problems with meth.

Nine years ago, my 15-year-old son tried meth. The first time he smoked it 
he was hooked. How do I know this? Because eight years ago his meth 
supplier became angry with him, got high on the drug and proceeded to shoot 
him in the head and then torch his corpse.

This happened in a tiny community in Iowa--a place that has seen its share 
of this drug destroy families. The state and local authorities in Iowa, and 
in many other states, have been well aware of the meth trend for some time 
now and have done laudable things to try and stem the tide. It's time for 
Riley and his czar boss, along with the rest of the federal government, to 
get their collective heads out of the sand and take on the real war in this 
country.

Joni Tanaciev

La Plata, Md. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth