'METH IS AMONG THE BIGGEST DRUG PROBLEMS' FACING KENTUCKY

Congratulations to The Courier-Journal for its outstanding series on the
methamphetamine crisis in Kentucky.

Meth is among the biggest drug problems facing our commonwealth, and Gov.
Ernie Fletcher, Lt. Gov. Stephen Pence, the Justice and Public Safety
Cabinet and the Office of Drug Control Policy support the series and are
glad that the newspaper brought this issue to the forefront for many of its
readers.

The ODCP, which Fletcher created in September as the coordinating agency
for all substance abuse issues in Kentucky, has been working on a proposal
to address many of the meth problems.

We have reached out to lawmakers, prosecutors, the Office of the Attorney
General, law enforcement, treatment providers, drug education
professionals, associations and others for their input on our proposal to
better address and reduce meth use and production.

We must work together to successfully fight this and other drug problems.
Meth is a significant threat that we must do more to decrease, but it is
part of the broader, more complex substance abuse problem.

The ODCP -- the office heading up the first statewide, comprehensive
approach to drugs in Kentucky -- is laboring to better approach and reduce
all substance abuse.

There are no quick or easy answers, but to start, we must all be aware of
the enemy we are facing.

The Courier-Journal helped immensely in providing this awareness to its
readers on meth. Great work.

KARYN HASCAL

Deputy director

Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy

Frankfort, Ky. 40601