BIGGEST 'BUSINESS'

EDITOR: To most people, Johnson City is filled with locally owned
businesses and some larger chains, but this is not by far the most
successful business ventures in the area.

It seems that the underground drug culture in this area has grown vastly
over the past two years. With illegal drugs varying from marijuana,
cocaine, LSD, heroin, crack, and now crystal methamphetamine. This is by
far the most growing drug, with everyone from students in middle school to
working adults using it.

One dealer, who asked his name to remain anonymous, says that he can bring
an ounce into the Tri-Cities which he pays close to $1,300 for and break it
down into quarter grams (that is 112 quarters) and sell them anywhere from
$40 to $60 apiece depending on the location in the Tri-Cities. He also
commented that he usually makes a out-of-town trip biweekly to pick up
anywhere from an ounce to an ounce and a half.

The high from this drug will last from 8 to 24 hours. This most common form
of meth in this area seems to be known as "ice" or "shards," which looks
like slivers of ice. This type of meth is usually crushed into powder and
snorted or smoked thru a glass piece. A few of the short term effects of
ice is "increased alertness," "sense of well being," and an "intense high."

Some of the more hazardeous effects would include "paranoia,"
"convulsions," "violent behavior," and "uncontrollable movements." On a
personal note, some of the long-term effects I still experience from it is
"formication," which is where it feels like there are bugs crawling on the
body, but nothing is there.

Being a former meth user I know the mental addiction to this drug. I feel
it's a duty for our D.A.R.E. programs to really push this drug. Parents
should also speak with their children regarding this drug before someone
else has them try it.

MICAH McCRARY, Johnson City