MY TURN: WINNING THE METH FIGHT

Each October, we observe Red Ribbon Week to honor the sacrifice of DEA
Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camerena, who died fighting to stop criminal
enterprises from smuggling illegal drugs into the U.S. Each year, we
rededicate ourselves to drug prevention programs that help keep our
schools and neighborhoods safe and healthy.

While we must work to combat all illegal drugs in our state, one drug -
methamphetamine - still demands extra efforts. Meth devastates users as
well as their family, friends and neighbors. It is the No. 1 problem
facing Arizona law enforcement, since it is the proximate cause of more
than 70 percent of violent and property crimes. An amazing 65 percent of
all child abuse and neglect cases handled in this office cite meth as the
major contributing factor. Meth burdens our schools, our health care
providers, our businesses and our prisons.

Two new studies, however, show that Arizona has made substantial progress
against this deadly drug.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission recently released its 2008 Arizona
Youth Survey, a bi-annual study of substance abuse and other high-risk
youth behavior in Arizona. According to the survey, youth methamphetamine
use has declined by more than 50 percent in many categories over the past
two years. In all statewide categories measured, meth use declined between
39 and 65 percent.

This survey comes on the heels of another milestone. In August, the
Governor's Methamphetamine Task Force reported that the number of
clandestine meth lab incidents in Arizona decreased from 254 in 2002 to
only eight in 2007.

These dramatic achievements are the result of coordinated efforts at the
local, state and federal level, including:

- Pseudoephedrine restrictions. Since 2006, 44 Arizona cities and towns
have restricted over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine, the key
ingredient in making meth. The Governor's task force report noted that the
sharp decrease in meth labs is a direct result of these local
restrictions.

- Public awareness campaigns. Advertising campaigns, such as the gritty
Arizona Meth Project, are educating young people about the damage meth
does to their bodies, family and peers as well as the potential to cause
addiction with only one use.

- Community partnerships. In virtually all Arizona communities, anti-meth
coalitions have aggressively pursued those who cook and sell meth. They
have also reached out through professional conferences, public events and
advocacy networks to create broad-based local support for the fight
against meth.

- Educational programs. Projects such as the Boys & Girls Clubs' MethSMART
program are taking an interactive approach to teaching young people about
meth's dangers.

While Arizona's children and communities are less at risk today than they
were two years ago, our work is far from over. We must pass statewide
pseudoephedrine restrictions to keep precursor chemicals out of the hands
of meth cooks in all parts of our state. We must strengthen partnerships
between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement to stop the flow of meth from
Mexico's "superlabs" into Arizona. And, we need to expand treatment
programs for those caught in this drug's pernicious grip.

Arizona's continued success depends on collective effort-elected
officials, social service agencies, law enforcement, health care
professionals, tribal officials, grass roots organizations, neighborhood
activists, clergy, parents and teachers - working together to address
prevention, enforcement and treatment.

I am very encouraged by our impressive progress to date and optimistic
about our ability to finish the job. By working together, we can bring
Arizona's meth problem under control for good.

Terry Goddard is the Arizona Attorney General.