METH USERS CAN BE VIOLENT

Prisoner David Nichols, the writer of the Aug. 6 Guest Opinion on the
serious social costs of alcohol abuse, is right on alcohol and wrong on
methamphetamine ("Who really meets test on burden of guilt?").

He has some lessons to learn, and let us hope he remains in prison until he
learns them. Otherwise, when he is released, he will return to dealing and
servicing the self-destructive behavior of meth addicts.

Persons who use meth have been known to go berserk and commit violent acts.
Their judgment is seriously impaired. They drive like maniacs and can cause
accidents. Trauma triggered by meth users is not insignificant to those
injured by them.

Alcohol is the substance of greatest abuse and does cause many deaths.
People are crippled in accidents caused by drunk drivers. Spouses and
children are beaten, raped and killed by drunks. Babies are born to
alcoholic mothers with serious neurological deficits, and sperm of alcoholic
men can lead to genetic breaks in their children.

Meth, however, is also a very dangerous substance and causes serious
problems for its users and anyone hapless enough to come into their paths
when they are high on it or looking for money to buy it.

The writer would have done well to talk to the substance abuse counselors
and emergency room nurses and physicians who see the results of meth abuse.
He needs to learn to take responsibility for his own irresponsible behavior,
rather than pointing a finger at others.

Patricia A. McKnight, RN