Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jan 2003
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Copyright: 2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact:  http://www.seattle-pi.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/408
Author: Irene Endicott And Lisa Vares
Note: Irene Endicott of South Everett is chairwoman of Citizens For A Safe 
Snohomish County. Lisa Vares is a member of the task force and a member of 
the Marysville City Council. For more information, education, prevention 
and treatment source referral, contact Citizens For A Safe Snohomish 
County, P.O. Box 13618, Mill Creek, WA 98082 or send e-mail to HELP WIN THE WAR ON METH

There is a war on the home front being waged against terror -- the war 
against methamphetamine that began last year in Snohomish County. An 
alarming article in the January issue of Rolling Stone shook citizens and 
leaders in Granite Falls because the national magazine profiled their fair 
city as the battleground for meth.

However, Granite Falls is typical of the seriousness of the meth invasion 
as are Marysville, Arlington, Everett and all the county's rural areas. 
Meth has invaded our schools, tribes, neighborhoods and threatens our 
environment. Our jails are full of addicts and Snohomish County officials 
estimate that two-thirds of all crime can be linked to meth. The future 
drain on our health care system and emergency medical services needs to be 
addressed as meth users age and develop disabilities related to addiction.

The statewide meth problem is of such proportion that it is the 
fastest-growing public safety threat to our rural communities. Washington 
state has the unfortunate distinction of being No. 1 in mobile meth labs 
and No. 3 (to California and Missouri) in meth use.

The best reason to commit to war against this enemy is that, according to 
experts, we are losing this generation of kids. Some believe that in two 
weeks of meth use, a "tweaker" has irreversible brain damage. Lynn Eul, a 
youth violence and drug prevention specialist in Snohomish County, says 
meth is instantly addictive; it hijacks a child's sleep, steals judgment, 
appetite and causes an ugly array of physical symptoms.

We are Citizens For A Safe Snohomish County, a non-partisan, volunteer 
citizen task force formed in 2001 to study issues relating to public safety 
here. Our group has made the meth epidemic our priority for 2003 and is 
exploring how perpetrators and victims are managed by the components of 
county government. We will determine the systemic strengths and weaknesses 
of our county government regarding this issue and make a public report of 
findings and recommendations later this year.

We challenge Snohomish County government officials and departments to build 
on the momentum begun last year by the Snohomish County Meth Action Team, 
headed by Sheriff Rick Bart. Two nationally acclaimed meth summits in 
January and May empowered hundreds of adults and nearly 1,000 middle school 
and high school students to fight the meth epidemic.

We applaud neighborhood activism against meth but believe citizens have a 
legitimate expectation that our county government should not force citizens 
into "do-it-yourself law enforcement." Trained deputies should play this 
dangerous game, not emotionally drained and sleep-deprived neighbors of 
drug houses who are fighting the meth war themselves.

We are encouraged by the public safety focus of the Snohomish County Law & 
Justice Committee, led by Councilman Jeff Sax, and by a campaign pledge 
made by newly elected prosecuting attorney Janice Ellis to strengthen 
enforcement of laws regarding abatement of drug houses.

We ask you to become part of the solution in your community. Help win the 
war against meth in Washington state. The damage this drug is inflicting on 
lives, health and our environment is intolerable.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth