Columnist John Tierney, who wrote "Debunking the 'Meth Epidemic' " (Aug. 15), needs serious help for his denial issue.

Have him go to any state prison and see how many are imprisoned for this drug's use, sale and manufacturing. I work at the Marion Correctional Institution, where an abundance of male inmates' drug of choice is meth.

As a substance abuse counselor, I have seen the damage done by this drug as well as others, and yes, addicts, or those who accept they are out of control in their use are 5 percent. The users are closer to 15 percent and they are raping, robbing and committing other crimes that affect the rest of us.

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