USA: Meth Epidemic

Drug Is Scourge Of Rural Areas, Officials Say

Methamphetamine is the nation's biggest law enforcement problem, local officials across the county say.

It is worst than cocaine. It is crowding jails. It is leading to increases in other crimes - thefts, violence and domestic abuse. And it's increasing.

Officials from the National Association of Counties earlier this week released a survey of 500 local nationwide to emphasize their point. They declared that Washington's focus on terrorism and homeland security had diverted funds and attention from the meth problem.

The same officials want Congress to restore funding for an $804 million drug - fighting program slated for elimination in the 2006 federal budget.

"This is a national problem that requires national leadership," said Angelo Kyle, president of the association of counties and member of the board of commissioners in Lake County, Ill., north of Chicago.

At a news conference in Washington, the group pointed out that methamphetamine has harmed rural areas throughout America. The drug is inexpensive and relatively simple to make, the materials readily available. Whether smoked, inhaled or injected, it is very addictive.

Some 87 percent of law enforcement agencies in 45 states reported increases in meth - related arrests in the last three years; 68 percent cited increases in lab seizures.

Fifty - eight percent said meth was their largest drug problem. It is particularly bad in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest, with the Upper Midwest not to far behind.

Seventy percent of counties reported increases in robberies and burglaries due to methamphetamine; 62 percent reported a rash of domestic violence; 53 percent a rise in assaults and 27 percent an increase in identity theft.

As "Bill Hansell, president - elect of the association and a commissioner from Umatilla County, Ore., warned: "Meth abuse is ruining lives and families and filling our jails."

Washington needs to heed the message.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jul 2005
Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Watertown Daily Times
Contact: letters@wdt.net
Website: http://www.wdt.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
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