Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) Copyright: 2006 The Oregonian Contact: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n000/a241.html Author: Kathleen Pequeno 'STATE OF NEGLECT': DRUG TREATMENT KEY I was glad to read your editorial, "For many kids, Oregon is a state of neglect." It's true that we're not making the connections that we need to: If we're serious about reducing methamphetamine addiction, we have to get serious about spending more on treatment than on our failed drug war strategies. When I wonder about why people aren't making the connection between treatment and the meth epidemic, I think about what I read in the paper and hear on the radio. Busting meth labs seems to be more of a headline grabber than the slow and steady trickle of people moving to recovery. But what about all the families with an addict who wants to change but [who finds that] it's easier to get more drugs than to get into a treatment program? Why isn't that news? When The Oregonian stops contributing to the sensationalism connected to meth, maybe then Oregonians will be able to get more realistic about how to reduce the number of broken families and broken lives caused by meth addiction. Kathleen Pequeno, Northeast Portland - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake