PBS SHOW FEATURES FM DRUG TRAGEDY

On this week's "Living in Iowa" some of the tragic consequences of
Iowa methamphetamine crisis are to be illustrated through the
experiences of a Fort Madison family. The segment airs on Friday,
Nov. 24, at 8:30 p.m. on Iowa Public Television.

Twenty-two year old Amy Cresswell was sentenced to five years in a
federal prison for her role in the drug-related death of her
14-year-old cousin Jessica Smith. Smith is believed to be the
youngest Iowan to die of a methamphetamine overdose.

There were three adults convicted in the case and they are all
serving 12-20 years in prison. Cresswell's sentence was less because
the judge took into consideration how she spent the year before her
sentencing.

She spent the year visiting schools in southeast Iowa talking about
how drugs killed her cousin and nearly destroyed her own life.
Cresswell started speaking thanks to the help of Bob Barnes, a
retired teacher from Letts who, as a grandfather, was concerned about
the meth problem. He wanted to find someone who could talk to young
people first-hand about drugs.

He found Cresswell and together the two traveled to schools
delivering a message to stay away from drugs. Today, Cresswell is
serving the first year of her five-year sentence.