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
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake