EDUCATION NEEDED ON METH EPIDEMIC

Mar. 14, 2005 12:00 AM It seems nearly every day we hear about a criminal
act to which there was a methamphetamine connection.

Meth is a cheaply obtained, highly addictive, violence- and theft-inducing
drug. Most often, children of users and producers of the drug become
victims, as they are subjected to toxic chemicals by inhalation or
absorption through the skin. These cause an array of developmental issues,
not to mention the chemical burns, emotional abuse and neglect to which so
many of these children are subjected.

State officials are doing what they can to change the accessibility of the
main ingredients used for meth production. I commend Arizona Attorney
General Terry Goddard and other state officials for their fight against
this ever-growing epidemic our state is facing.

However, I believe there is more that can be done at the community level.
Increasing education and awareness on the dangers of meth, as well as
increasing the accessibility and utilization of community prevention-based
resources would be a decent start.

Karla Roberts,

Laveen