The methamphetamine epidemic--which began in rural areas in the Western United States and has moved East--is now getting national political and media attention; today law enforcement agencies recognize it as their number one drug problem. But rural areas remain the most vulnerable to this often home-made drug.

Meth abuse can be devastating for children in affected families. In an alarming number of meth arrests, a child or children live in the home that is being used as a meth lab or where the parents abuse or badly neglect them because of their addiction. Those children overwhelmingly end up in the foster care system. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that “in terms of damage to children and to our society, meth is now the most dangerous drug in America.”

The meth epidemic is a complex problem that is not easily solved. One organization, the National Association of Counties, is taking a leading role in the effort to bring the meth epidemic to the attention of government officials and the public. To better understand the extent of the problem, NACo conducted surveys of law enforcement and county child welfare officials in order to determine the impact of meth on these county services and their communities. For further information, visit the NACo Meth Action Clearinghouse.

Methamphetamine causes legal, medical, environmental and social problems. Few local governments, especially in rural areas, have the resources to deal with the devastating effects. Robberies and burglaries have increased because of meth, as have domestic violance, assaults, and identify theft. Child welfare officials report an increase in out-of-home placements because of meth. Meth-lab burn victims end up in hospitals at a tremendous cost to hospitals and state Medicaid programs. Hallucinations, weight loss, skin sores, disfigured or destroyed teeth, and brain damage are among the physical results of meth use.

Methamphetamine combines the active ingredient in over-the-counter, nonprescription cold pills--pseudoephedrine--with iodine or anhydrous ammonia, commonly available in rural areas, that can be cooked in a home setting. Relatively cheap compared with other hard drugs, the highly addictive stimulant is hooking more and more people across the socioeconomic spectrum. Federal law enforcement officers estimate that 1.5 million Americans are regular users.

In the U.S. Senate, the the anti-methamphetamine effort is led by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control headed by Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is co-chairman of the caucus.

To learn more about what is being done across the country to stem the meth epidemic, go to the website of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws. The Alliance is planning its second National Methamphetamine Legislative Policy Conference in Honolulu on November 30. The methamphetamine epidemic--which began in rural areas in the Western United States and has moved East--is now getting national political and media attention; today law enforcement agencies recognize it as their number one drug problem. But rural areas remain the most vulnerable to this often home-made drug.

Meth abuse can be devastating for children in affected families. In an alarming number of meth arrests, a child or children live in the home that is being used as a meth lab or where the parents abuse or badly neglect them because of their addiction. Those children overwhelmingly end up in the foster care system. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that “in terms of damage to children and to our society, meth is now the most dangerous drug in America.”

The meth epidemic is a complex problem that is not easily solved. One organization, the National Association of Counties, is taking a leading role in the effort to bring the meth epidemic to the attention of government officials and the public. To better understand the extent of the problem, NACo conducted surveys of law enforcement and county child welfare officials in order to determine the impact of meth on these county services and their communities. For further information, visit the NACo Meth Action Clearinghouse.

Methamphetamine causes legal, medical, environmental and social problems. Few local governments, especially in rural areas, have the resources to deal with the devastating effects. Robberies and burglaries have increased because of meth, as have domestic violance, assaults, and identify theft. Child welfare officials report an increase in out-of-home placements because of meth. Meth-lab burn victims end up in hospitals at a tremendous cost to hospitals and state Medicaid programs. Hallucinations, weight loss, skin sores, disfigured or destroyed teeth, and brain damage are among the physical results of meth use.

Methamphetamine combines the active ingredient in over-the-counter, nonprescription cold pills--pseudoephedrine--with iodine or anhydrous ammonia, commonly available in rural areas, that can be cooked in a home setting. Relatively cheap compared with other hard drugs, the highly addictive stimulant is hooking more and more people across the socioeconomic spectrum. Federal law enforcement officers estimate that 1.5 million Americans are regular users.

In the U.S. Senate, the the anti-methamphetamine effort is led by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control headed by Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is co-chairman of the caucus.

To learn more about what is being done across the country to stem the meth epidemic, go to the website of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws. The Alliance is planning its second National Methamphetamine Legislative Policy Conference in Honolulu on November 30.