CRYING WOLF ABOUT METH ABUSE?

To the Editor:

John Tierney says meth is "a fad in some places." I urge him to
venture out to America's heartland, where meth abuse is anything but a
fad.

Come to Story County, Iowa. Come to Watauga County, N.C. Come to Salt
Lake County, Utah. Talk to the children of meth addicts, who are
increasingly cycled through the foster care system. Talk to first
responders who have been irreparably harmed by trying to clean up meth
fires.

Meth is destroying families in counties all across America. Statistics
show that meth use is increasing, yet the dangers associated with this
drug are given short shrift by Mr. Tierney.

Bill Hansell

Pendleton, Ore., Aug. 10, 2005

The writer is commissioner, Umatilla County, Ore., and president of
the National Association of Counties.