HYSTERICAL UNTRUTHS WON'T SCARE KIDS AWAY FROM DRUGS

Re: Column underplayed the seriousness of crystal meth, Letters, Oct. 3

As a recovering drug addict in his 50s, I was relieved to see Peter
McKnight's Sept. 24 column "The Meth Myth" as a dispassionate attempt to
examine the meth problem, amid the media hype and artificially generated
hysteria about what has been a cyclical problem here since the mid-1960s.

In his letter, Steve Fachler made the astounding claim that 60 per cent of
marijuana seized is "dusted" with crystal meth. This claim is ridiculous
and untrue.

The other scary propaganda often stated is that ecstasy is cut with crystal
meth, ignoring the fact that it is a derivative form of methamphetamine in
the first place and deserves to be feared for its own attributes.

I'm not attempting to say anything good about amphetamines, but
perpetuating hysterical lies is counterproductive to getting kids to choose
not to harm themselves with these substances.

Jim Chambers

Vancouver