Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO) Copyright: 2006 Cox Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.gjsentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084 Author: Tim Stratton CITIZENS CAN TAKE TRAINING TO HELP FIGHT METH PROBLEM Editor: Methamphetamine has been in Mesa County for several years and now it's become the main focus of local officials trying to determine how to deal with the problem as it has gotten out of control. Who wins and who loses? As a concerned citizen of Mesa County, I've seen where everyone loses with the presence of this drug. This drug affects everyone's lives including the users, their families, friends and even the citizens of Mesa County. The subculture robs, steals and burglarizes homes just to get another fix. It knows no boundaries because meth is 95 percent addictive. Statistics show this drug has been the cause of as many as 70 percent of the child abuse and neglect cases, along with the domestic violence cases. It creates rapid aging, destroys the body and has taken innocent lives due to stupidity. How do we deal with it? Law enforcement alone cannot deal with it. It's not going to go away, as this is currently the drug of choice, like cocaine was in the '90s. As citizens, we can become aware in order to help law enforcement. As a candidate for Mesa County sheriff, I believe that with the combined efforts of our citizens and law enforcement we can become winners on the war of meth and get the subculture on the run. I firmly support the Meth Watch Program and also clandestine lab training courses for the people in our community. These short courses, open to the public as well as law enforcement, will enhance everyone's awareness as to what to look out for, how to report it and what to do. These courses are put on by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and by the Colorado Regional Community Policing Institute, at no cost to the citizens of Mesa County. Think about it. This is your community, too. Tim Stratton Grand Junction - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake