SOUTH MISS. OFFICIALS SAY METH USE RISING AMONG YOUTHS

(AP) - South Mississippi officials say a "pre-emptive strike" is needed to
stop children from getting hooked on methamphetamines.

"Kids in high school are on the edge of trying meth," said Darby Shelton, a
school resource officer with the Picayune Police Department. "They're going
to have others tell them meth will keep you awake while you study or party,
pep you up or help you lose a few pounds. But they won't tell them meth
will keep them awake for two weeks straight, make them paranoid
schizophrenic and rot their teeth out."

Narcotics officials say that young adults are the primary meth users in the
six counties along the Gulf Coast, but juvenile and teenage users are
increasing.

Cmdr. Louis Miller of the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County said meth
users are "getting younger and younger."

"We recently found a 15-year-old female helping cook some meth," said
Miller. "She bailed out of a second-story barn to run from us."

Meth is made with drain cleaner, camping fuel and other ingredients.
According to a recent survey on alcohol, drugs and violence, nearly 20
percent of Long Beach students said that "uppers," like meth, are easy for
them to obtain.

Students in grades 6-12 are more likely to use alcohol, tobacco and
marijuana than other drugs, according to the statewide survey.

"We know meth is out there," said Carolyn Anderson, executive director of
the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force. "We don't need to bury our heads
in the sand over meth or other drugs."