METH STATISTICS QUESTIONED

Editor: While I found The Times' coverage of the crystal meth problem
(March 26) interesting, most of the scenario the reporter lays out
regarding teenage use of the drug defies logic. First of all, we get the
statistic that 19 per cent of students in the Lower Mainland have tried
crystal meth. Oh, really? One out of five students is using hard, illegal,
mind-altering drugs? Sounds a little steep.

Then we read the words 'highly addictive', 'dangerous', 'mental addiction',
'brain damage'. All true, I'm sure.

But assuming that the drug awareness people are giving us the straight
goods, wouldn't it then stand to reason that one in five students is
addicted or on the verge of addiction? And wouldn't they also be exhibiting
signs of violence and paranoia? I get out a fair bit and, looking around, I
don't see it.

This 'reefer madness' campaign the FHA and others are indulging in is
counter-productive. First of all, it is a big knock on our youth, the vast
majority of whom are way too smart to go near addictive, brain-damaging drugs.

Second, it diverts attention away from the people who are most at risk. And
third, the crystal meth problem runs the risk of falling into a 'crisis of
the month' category.

What we need is more education, more cops to bust the dealers and another
prison or two to house them for a while. What we don't need is a media
scare campaign.

Ken Grennan, Langley