Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2006 Source: Columbian, The (WA) Copyright: 2006 The Columbian Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.columbian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) NEW FACE OF METH Those "before" and "after" mug shots of meth users that are seen on billboards and posters offer visual proof of the physical toll of addiction. But how often do observers take an Alfred E. Newman "What? Me Worry?" approach to the problem? As pilots have learned, sometimes it's good to replace a visual approach with a more scientific system. Let the horrifying mug shots continue to impart warnings, but here are a few statistics about the problem in Washington state, starting with an encouraging trend but followed by more troubling numbers: . According to an Associated Press story, the number of meth labs in our state has decreased from a high of 1,890 in 2000 to just 806 last year. This decrease is traced to new laws banning over-the-counter sale of some medications and other ingredients used in manufacturing meth. This trend carries with it an environmental benefit. Meth labs, even small ones, pose a severe threat to neighborhoods, soil content and groundwater resources. Toxic substances and residue remain during and after the manufacture of methamphetamines. . The percentage of meth in Washington state that comes from beyond state lines has grown from an estimated 50 percent in 2001 to 75 percent. So, not only has the meth problem grown, but more of it is moving menacingly up and down Interstate 5 and other arteries. . The amount of trafficked meth seized statewide by the Washington State Patrol's drug unit has increased from 101 pounds in 2001 to 400 pounds in 2005. . The number of people treated by the state for meth addiction has grown from 7,7096 (6,379 adults and 717 teens) in 2004 to 8,489 people (7,669 adults and 820 teens) last year. . The statewide number of meth-involved deaths grew from 176 in 2002 to 257 last year. So the demise in meth labs in our state is more than offset by the worsening of other aspects of this scourge. A more compelling attitude than Alfred E. Newman's would be that of state Attorney General Rob McKenna. Typically not one to exaggerate, the state's top law enforcer calls meth "the biggest problem to ever hit the state, period. The addicts are still addicted, and the traffickers are simply stepping in to meet the demand. We need to meet with the addiction issue as well as the crime issue." One of the leaders in the legislative vigilance has been U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, particularly in the area of federal funding for state and local enforcement and treatment in the war against meth. Efforts by McKenna and Baird are crucial, but will have little effect unless the general public understands meth's devastation. Part of that understanding includes knowing that the decrease in the number of statewide meth labs only forces the demon to change his costume. Whether the destructive force is homemade or imported doesn't really matter to the subjects of those "before" and "after" photos. We are evolving from a self-sufficient meth-addicted society to a target-rich environment for international traffickers. Spread the word. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake