Pubdate: Thu, 03 Aug 2006
Source: Carlsbad Current-Argus (NM)
Copyright: 2006 Carlsbad Current-Argus
Contact:  http://www.currentargus.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2549
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

LEAD THE FIGHT, SIR

Carlsbad leaders gave U.S. Representative Steve Pearce the message 
loud and clear Monday: the most frustrating component of 
methamphetamine abuse is lack of treatment.

Rep. Pearce started his community tour of hearing on meth issues in 
New Mexico in Carlsbad this week, and expressed his surprised at how 
forward thinking this community is in addressing the issue.

 From judges to law enforcement officers, the message was clear: meth 
abusers need a different kind and different length of treatment than 
any other kind of drug abuser.

Meth users are not few and far between. Woods Houghton, a local 
champion in the fight against drugs, said he couldn't think of anyone 
whose life hasn't been touched by meth. Incoming Judge Dick Van Dyk 
said the physical changes on the body from meth use are not only 
horrific; it brings about a whole separate issue of health care for 
meth users. Educators and social workers also spoke about meth's long 
tentacles of destruction that disable families and destroys a child's 
ability to learn, grow and flourish.

Good for Rep. Pearce for taking this initiative. Please take these 
messages back to Washington:

Of all the things government spends money on, it's time to invest in 
meth treatment for the long term. Create programs where meth abusers 
spend not just six weeks or six months and then get back out and use 
- -- create programs that work by taking as long as it takes. Use the 
government's vast resources in research and implementation that 
creates a program that is effective.

Use whatever "government pull" available to get health insurance 
providers on board with the need for long-term treatment. While this 
may seem like a tall order, treating meth addiction is uncharted territory.

Fund the drug court system so the users can answer to the law in a 
timely manner. These people need to be off the street, not recruiting 
others to a life of meth addiction.

Recognize that border states have a severe meth trafficking issue. 
The methamphetamine manufactured in Mexico is so pure it only takes 
one use to become an addict for life. Southern border states are 
finding that their meth issues are not so much in the manufacturing 
of it as the trafficking and sales of such potent drugs. Fund the war 
on meth as its own crime.

That's a tall order for Rep. Pearce, but it's an order that needs to 
be placed. Go back to the capitol and fight for New Mexico to lead 
the way in meth treatment and the war on this particular drug.

When it comes time to testify to the ravages of this war, Rep. 
Pearce, you constituents at home have dozens of horror stories to 
share that could one day bring about the public good.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman