METHAMPHETAMINE ARTICLE A MUST-READ

The article on the front page of Sunday's paper regarding the laws in our
state concerning methamphetamine is one that I believe everyone, everywhere
should read and pay very close attention to. This is a drug like no other
in so many ways. It can be made easily from common household products that
can be bought legally for the most part ... The "labs" set up to process
this drug are themselves toxic, containing lithium from car batteries,
anhydrous ammonia and kerosene, just to name a few. The drug can be
manufactured to three grade levels, all insuperably addictive. Mr. Sadler
mentioned that the drug has already hit the northwest and this is so true.
It's effects are absolutely devastating. Brain damage is permanent after
only a very few uses, leaving the victims unable to concentrate. A recent
article in Rolling Stone quotes Lynn Eul, the youth-violence and
drug-prevention coordinator for the prosecutor's office in Snohomish
County, Wash., "The solvents used to make it literally gouge out their
brain. After only a few weeks, tweakers suffer permanent brain damage. And
that's not the neurochemical part. Meth addicts can't make dopamine
anymore, which sends them into a deep depression, they want to kill
themselves or the people around them."

Thank you Mr. Sadler for speaking out on this problem before it becomes
widespread. It will be here soon enough. Hopefully we'll be able to protect
ourselves and our community better by becoming more aware.

John Cox, Princeton