Pubdate: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 Source: Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY) Copyright: 2005 The Courier-Journal Contact: http://www.courier-journal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97 Note: Only publishes local LTEs Author: Jessie Halladay, The Courier-Journal Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) ADS SHOW HOW METH RAVAGES ITS USERS National Campaign Opens in Louisville Todd Zaborac knows what it's like to feel the euphoric surge of invincibility that comes with a methamphetamine high. He also knows the damage the drug can do -- it ruined his teeth, aged him prematurely and landed him in trouble with the law. Zaborac, 29, said he recognized himself in some of the images unveiled yesterday in several television spots aimed at educating people about the dangers of meth use. The messages are part of a campaign sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the Office of National Drug Control Policy that was unveiled yesterday in Louisville. TV, radio and print advertisements were running locally starting yesterday -- part of a nationwide effort to combat methamphetamine use. The ads are running in 23 cities, including Louisville, and will appear when stations and newspapers have air time and space. The ads "reminded me where I used to be," Zaborac said. "Anything they can do to make people more aware of how meth addicts are is helping." Zaborac has been clean since April, with the help of The Healing Place, where a judge ordered him to get treatment after he was arrested for selling and making meth. The campaign kickoff was held there. "There's a lot of people who believe this is the worst drug ever," said Mike Townsend of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "We want to make sure methamphetamine doesn't find its way into mainstream teenage culture," he said. In June, Kentucky enacted a law that limits access to common allergy and cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, which is used in the manufacturing of meth. Those medicines now are kept behind the pharmacy counter, and buyers are required to show identification and sign a log when buying them. Since the law took effect, Kentucky has seen an 80 percent drop in the number of meth lab busts, said Teresa Barton of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. Through Nov. 15, 32 meth labs have been found in Jefferson County this year. "We've had a small success in a small battle in what remains a very big war," said Lt. Gov. Steve Pence. He told a group at The Healing Place that the ads will be a valuable tool in raising awareness about methamphetamine. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake