WE MUST ALL HELP COPS END METH EPIDEMIC

Local, state and federal authorities are saying that Bradford County's
methamphetamine problem is the worst it's ever been. At present, what the
authorities are calling our area's methamphetamine epidemic is more severe
than what's being experienced in any other county in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The police say that the drug is being used and dealt by people of all ages,
from teen-agers to middle-agers.

Since November, 12 local residents have been arrested for conspiring to
manufacture and deliver the drug. The authorities say at least 30 other
individuals will likely be arrested on similar charges in the near future.

Quite frankly, we're downright alarmed at the situation.

Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that not only ruins lives and families,
but also kills.

And from what the police are saying, it has a pretty tight hold on Bradford
County.

Fortunately, the police are in the process of loosening the drug's grip on
our community. They have launched an all-out offensive aimed at wiping out
the meth industry in Bradford County.

But they can't do it alone.

They need every law-abiding local resident to be on the lookout for
anything that might hint of methamphetamine use or trafficking. Parents
should keep on the lookout for irrational behavior from their children and
especially take notice if their children are seemingly awake all the time.
Hyperactivity is one of the drug's main side-effects.

We all should keep an eye out for possible signs of the drug's presence --
a neighbor who's seemingly up all night, refuse that contains a lot of
household cleaning and automotive items, and people coming and going in
short succession from a residence.

Methamphetamine at one time was a high-tech drug that could only be made in
laboratories. Now, thanks to the Internet, teen-agers can make the drug
using normal household items, such as drain cleaner, automotive fluids and
over-the-counter cold medication.

Several people quickly visiting and leaving a residence could be a sign
that a new batch of the drug has been "cooked" and is being sold to users.

We're not telling people to be paranoid, but we want everyone to realize
that our law enforcers are calling this problem an epidemic, and that
designation should by no means be taken lightly.

Substance abuse, from excessive drinking to using illegal narcotics, can
without a doubt send people's lives spiraling out of control, causing them
to lose their jobs, families and even end up dead.

Police say that a telltale sign of methamphetamine use is people acting
irrationally, committing robberies, sex crimes and other criminal acts.

Anyone who regularly reads The Review can see that there is no shortage of
crime, especially sexual assaults, in Bradford County.

Our advice to everyone is to treat this epidemic like you would any other
epidemic because it's just as destructive and deadly.

We must all do our part to turn those infected by this powerful drug into
the authorities, so that meth users and addicts can get help and be stopped
from spreading the addiction to others.