'CRITICAL MESSAGE'

I applaud the Sacramento, Modesto and Fresno Bees' 18-page report on
methamphetamine. Your large investigative team demonstrated that substance
abuse is the common risk factor behind numerous social ills, such as
childhood neglect and abuse, family violence, infant mortality, impaired
childhood development, crime, diminished school achievement and
environmental degradation.

If our government and community invested the resources that are absolutely
needed by our drug prevention and law enforcement agencies to reduce
substance abuse, we would necessarily reduce these other social ills as
well as save a significant portion of the more than $1 billion that
Sacramento spends to hold these ills at bay. It is hard to imagine a more
prudent investment.

Thank you for your own investment of reporters and money to bring us this
critical message.

Paul L. Seave, United States Attorney, Sacramento