THE METH MENACE

Thank you for publishing Methamphetamine: The Social Toll on Rural America
on Nov. 9 and giving it prominent front-page treatment. Our foundation has
been monitoring methamphetamine's rampant growth across the country and its
imminent threat to the citizens here in Florida.

Meth has a horrendous track record of destroying families, engendering
child abuse and neglect and causing the creation of dangerous toxic waste.

The appalling stories of meth addiction we have collected range from low
income folk desperate to move to the next high to soccer moms who wanted to
lose a little weight and keep up with their schedule.

Our country is only beginning to understand the long-term effects of what
may be one of the worst scourges of illicit drugs in our history.

We appreciate the Times raising awareness of this deadly addiction and its
devasting effects. You have demonstrated well that drug abuse is not a
victimless crime.

Calvina L. Fay, executive director, Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., St.
Petersburg