IT'S FORTUNATE OLD TACTICS WORK FOR NEW DRUGS

John Simms' column on today's Opinion page (page A12) is both
heartening and discouraging. It says that meth use may have declined
in Carson City, but now there are other evils out there to take its
place.

In light of that, it seems a good move by the city's anti-meth
coalition, Partnership Carson City, to broaden its scope to become
anti-illegal drugs and anti-underage drinking. That good news on meth
likely stems in part from the work of that coalition and law
enforcement, and if they can exert the same influence on other drugs,
the community will be better off.

But the bad news is that there's always going to be a drug out there
that lures vulnerable youth, whether it's meth or heroin or whatever
they can get their hands on.

That's why the most important part of Simms' column today is not
necessarily about which drugs kids are using, but on how parents can
help keep their kids away from them. The beauty of it is that those
tactics, summarized in his statement "the best way to defend your
children from the evil enemies of drugs is to be involved with the
many aspects of your child's life," work for all drugs and all of the
other ills society can throw at your family.

This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal