For starters you can blame the media, the education system, and parents for lying to kids. We dont let kids drink under 21 why? Because we say its bad. So at 20 its bad, and 21 its good? Explain the difference so a young kid can understand. Obviously all the things we say is bad, we do and let happen. So why would drugs be any different? In elementary school drugs are the same as alcohol. I remember this, they are used in the same sentence alot when refering to substance abuse.. "drugs and alcohol". So when you grom up alcohol is ok... so why shouldnt drugs be? Why would you think people would separate the difference? People get hooked on drugs because all the warnings they learned they figure were probably fake just like everything else in this country.

Address the real problem. If a 4.0 grade point average student decides to take up meth... there is something wrong with them, social issues, depression, ...all mental issues. They are obviously educated enough to know its bad. Would you agree? No disrespect intended but look at the root cause... not the problem it created. If you dont know the root cause and are blaming the drug, you are not looking hard enough nor trying to understand why and what happened. It sure isnt the drugs fault as I mentioned already, the drug does not attack innocent people.

I've found packets of meth/heroin/crack in a toolbox, jewelry box, and coat pocket. I've found bottles of vodka hidden under a sink behind cleaning products, and flasks half full of some type of alcohol hidden in the drawer where a baby's diapers are kept. I've seen the gleam that an individual exudes when talking about hitting on 17 or the current college basketball point spread, then quickly asking me if I wanted to buy their ring/car, etc., because they really need the cash. I've had friends lose their loved ones over a marble thrown on a rotating wheel, and other friends lose loved ones over a bottle of booze. I've watched family members turn their back on family because "it is just one hit" and "you don't know what your talking about", when they were told that the needle is going to kill them. I've found a family member on their basement floor - dead, from internal hemorrhaging due to severe alcoholism. I have a family member that spent several years of their life incarcerated for possession and selling of drugs, only to find that 3 days upon becoming free, they have jumped headfirst right back into the crackpipe. Am I afraid of drugs/alcohol/gambling - with specificity to the topic of meth? Nope, not at all. I never had a fear of those objects. However, am I afraid of how a person may try to justify their actions after they engage in self-destructive behavior, but end up hurting/destroying someone else? You bet!

Please refer to the 3:53 post I don't battle wits with unarmed people,meaning people that read and hear about the epidemics in this society but never have lived them. I have lived it ! I almost lost my 4.0 high school graduate that had the world in front of her and one day made "1" a major mistake that spiraled into a life changer. So until people have lived a nightmare such as I and millions of others keep your mouth shut or do something positive to help rather than speculate. Good night !

Thanks for the email bassman. You misunderstand the entire concept. We shouldnt be focusing on how to get rid of meth...it will never happen. What people should be focusing on is the mental issues in society. These mental issues are what makes people do meth and also the same issues that make people go on shooting sprees. Unless you are a complete uneducated idiot, a mental problem is the only thing that would make you do a self destructive drug. One that is very self disciplined is likely not one to be on drugs. A mentally weak and unprepared person facing a challenge is... This is also a failure of our education system to prepare people for life. We teach kids about Shakespeare but fail to prepare them for when their girlfriend dumps them, or they get fired, or someone dies.

Sorry about the comment I usually do not battle wits with unarmed people !!!!!!!

Your an ass !

So its 100% the drugs fault and not the people that do it? This is really scary then because with this logic... if im anywhere near the drug even though I dont want to do it, it will suck me in and get me all drugged up without my consent? Wow... some powerful stuff. How dare we hold people accountable for their own actions...blame, blame, blame....hurry point fingers, its not our fault, always someone else or somethings fault. What I say is idiotic? Ha! It might be but its the 100% truth whether its what you want to hear or not. If you or your kid is on meth, you or your kid failed at life.

If you don't believe that methamphetamine can rot a community from the inside out, drive through rural areas and small towns in Iowa, Southern Illinois and Missouri. You don't have to look too far to see how meth ravages the people and communities in which it takes root. The damage is right on Main Street.

Sigma,your comments are so idiotic I cannot believe you even said that ! Once you try this crapp, in most cases your hooked,and for your info many well educated people have lost everything due to just trying it ! It is one of the most addicting and cheap drugs on the streets,your neighbor could be manufacturing it and you would never know it.Very profitable and devastating to all involved. You had better step back in your little fantasy world and wake up,because someone in your family could be next ! Unbelievable ......

Its not the drug that destroys families. Its the person who takes the drug. Just like spoons dont make people fat and guns dont kill people..... PEOPLE DO. Passing the blame to an inanimate object is about as ridiculous as it gets. And people wonder why nothing ever gets better? maybe they should ban the drug?... just a thought.

the title for this blog is odd, IMO...meth is a very bad, highly addictive drug that kills people and destroys families...if it's here, we should be worried, but right now, heroin, prescriptions, and alcohol seem to be the drugs of choice in Rock County...how about focus on those and hope meth doesn't make it big here...

Perscription drug use is by far the biggest fear we should be worried about. Users will eventually require $100-$300 a day to suppliment their habit forcing them to switch to Heroin...which is both a worse habit and also a solution(as natural selection forces the weaker ones to die off). Nothing worse than seeing Bob Spoden on the front of the paper smiliing saying our drug task force efforts are paying off...only to flip the page and see 5 burglaries...as if theirs a rash of people needin lawn tools and tvs to support their families...Thank God for Castle Doctrine

Why waste money fighting it. Let the people do themselves in. I dont fear it because I dont use the stuff. If people are that mentally deficient where they need to use the stuff... by all means.. let them. People are educated and know what the outcome is, if they still do it they are stupid. Dont waste my tax dollars fighting a battle we will never win.

bassman: Thanks for sharing your personal story. I offer my prayers and wishes for the best of luck to your daughter and family.
Greg Peck

I personally know what this can do to someone. I have a 26 yr old beautiful daughter that got wrapped up in this crapp. She is clean "At least I think she is" The main problem was 8 years ago and,it has permanently affected her for life. Very twitchy,unfocused,extremely moody,and it makes me sick. This is an epidemic and thank god I still have her. Very hard for me to talk about. Just pray your kids don't start !

It will be interesting to read your perspectives in Wed.'s editorial. The heroin usage fades away somewhat, only to return in it's 15 or 20 year cycle. Meth, on the other hand, comes around and stays around.

Do you fear methamphetamine?.....No just like i dont fear crack or heroin . Why is the media pushing fear ?......Its to Bad Media wasn't informative and give more truths . True Meth , Heroin ,Crack in my opinion are the 3 top Illegal substances out their , all can kill your body mind & soul and kill you financially . If you become addicted to 1 these three , you will eventually steal from your friends and family , and slowly mess up every relationship it took your life time to build .

These 3 Drugs in my opinion should never be tried , or indulged in .

I read a High Times Magazine article 30 years ago and they said of Heroin "so good don't even try it ounce"

Marijuana Should be legalized , and the big 3 should remain Illegal mainly because they will eventually drive you to steal and commit more crimes to get money .

It's time to legalize and regulate these drugs to take the huge profit motive away from the pushers. We got out of a wrongful war in Vietnam, we're leaving the mess we stepped into in Afghanistan, it's time to end the unwinnable war on drugs.
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Make the drugs available in drugstores, with regulation manufacturing to eliminate poisonous contaminants and fillers, and one-use needles to prevent the spread of disease. Allow employers to discriminate against those who test positive for drug use if they wish, and deal very harshly with unlicensed manufacturers and dealers (who won't have the high volume of cash to corrupt the legal process), and anyone who drives under the influence.

Perhaps cocaine will lose some of its glamour if the snorters have to stand in line at Walgreens with seniors buying their Preparation H to pick up a few grams of their "party" addiction.

watch the movie Winter's bone and see how Meth can corrupt a town.
It really doesn't matter which is worse , Meth vs Heroin. it's like asking whether you would prefer to die in a train wreck or a plane crash.