FIVE-DAY METH SERIES TO BEGIN TOMORROW

A Spanish philosopher once said, "There is no fear without some hope, and
no hope without some fear."

In Northeast Nebraska's battle against methamphetamine, there should be
fear and hope.

The fear is of the pervasiveness of the illegal drug, how it has reached
virtually all corners of society.

No longer can local and area residents think that the meth problem is
someone else's concern. A fellow worker, the neighbor across the street,
the teen-age girl -- they all could be experimenting with or addicted to meth.

That would come as no surprise to law enforcement officials in Norfolk and
Madison County. They struggle with the ever-growing influence of meth on a
daily basis and say they can't keep up with its reach.

The fear also comes when police officers and state troopers say this is a
battle they're not winning.

That fear will be reflected in the Daily News' five-part series of stories
called "Cracking Down on Meth" that will begin in tomorrow's edition.

But so will the hope.

The hope comes from the realization that there are steps that can be taken,
issues that can be won and decisions that can be made that will help fight
back against meth.

There is no single, magical solution. Even if all the partial solutions
identified in the Daily News' series are implemented, there's no guarantee
of success.

But there is hope.

The majority of the Daily News series will not focus on how bad the meth
problem is. Northeast Nebraskans already know or suspect that. Most of the
stories will deal with the potential solutions -- as identified by law
enforcement and the criminal justice system -- and what will be needed to
implement them.

Daily News readers will learn about:

- -- How law enforcement officers are hampered in their efforts to arrest
drug dealers because they run short of funds for undercover drug buys.

- -- How tougher penalties for drug users might be more important in the
fight against meth than arresting drug dealers.

- -- How more cooperation is needed among federal agencies that have a role
in the battle against drugs in order to be as successful as possible.

- -- How Northeast Nebraska could potentially benefit if there were
representation from federal agencies, such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement
Administration and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, here in the
Norfolk area.

- -- How treatment options often require a lengthy wait for those who need it
most.

- -- How the creation of a specialized drug court in the Norfolk area might
help some drug users turn their lives around.

- -- How a community needs to be involved in building positive character
traits if it wants to keep its young people away from drugs as they grow up.

Fear and hope. The extent of the meth problem in Northeast Nebraska causes
the fear. The fact that solutions are available provides the hope.

Expect the fear. Be a part of the hope.

Look for the five-part series "Cracking Down on Meth" beginning on the
front page of tomorrow's edition of the Daily News.