DEMON SWINGS AWAY

If only three strikes meant an "out" for the methamphetamine-abuse
problem in Clark County and Washington state.

As John Branton reported in Sunday's Columbian, three strikes have
been taken recently against the drug scourge that is growing like a
dry prairie fire. We salute the pitchers who are throwing the strikes,
which are reported below. But this problem won't go away soon, and the
only effective strategy is to keep throwing more strikes, expensive as
they are.

Clark County residents should care more than others in the state
because, according to the county's Department of Community Services,
our admissions rate for meth treatment (158.5 per 100,000 in
population) is the highest among the state's five largest counties.
The number of annual treatment admissions for meth use in Clark County
has doubled in the past five years.

Strike One The county recently received a three-year, $1.5 million
grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration to integrate mental health and substance abuse
treatment services.

The grant will work with adults who are meth-dependent and also
diagnosed with serious mental health disorders.

Strike Two Washington state has received $2 million in federal funding
for the Washington Methamphetamine Initiative, which will allow
counties including Clark to hire deputies to work full-time on meth
enforcement. Undercover officers will collaborate with retailers,
focusing on precursor chemicals used to make meth.

Strike Three The Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area has
allocated $150,000 for methamphetamine enforcement in Southwest
Washington, and $100,000 will go to the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force
for training and equipment.

That's progress. Unfortunately, the meth problem is a long way from
striking out