'Life is kinda cool'

It’s been a few weeks since I saw an article in a California newspaper that I found inspiring.

A young woman is working hard to overcome her meth and heroin addiction and be a good mother to her two young daughters. Now a role model for other recovering women, she’s been clean for 16 months and is enjoying the little things in life—goofing off with her kids and clean, sober friends, drinking a soda at the movies.

What a great reminder when I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself. Despite all she’s had to overcome, she expressed it so well and so simply: “You take away the drugs, and life is kinda cool.”

Thanks for the inspiration, Mariah.

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http://www.theunion.com/article/20070901/NEWS/109010151

'Meth is OUR problem'

Over the past month, a Clovis, New Mexico, paper published an exellent series about the methamphetamine crisis.

Now in a follow-up opinion piece, the author of that series has shared her emotions about the experience of writing those articles and her compassion for the families of meth addicts that she met. Especially the mothers.

It touched my heart. But then, it's a subject I know well.

Helena Rodriguez has done a wonderful job of shedding light on this darkly disturbing problem. But she found not many people are willing to talk about it.

Has that been your experience? And I wonder, is that true of other drug problems? Heroin, cocaine, oxycontin. Are people more willing to talk about these drug problems and if so, why is that?

I believe that meth is the biggest problem drug our country faces today, and its effects are going to be felt in generations to come. Let's talk more and DO more to eradicate this insidious drug!

http://www.cnjonline.com/opinion/meth_22323___article.html/people_problem.html

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Prevention ads are working in Montana

Keeping young teens from trying drugs is such a daunting task.

Our federal government has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into prevention campaigns in recent years, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. I've had conversations with my addicted son over the years about how to keep kids from experimenting with drugs, and he didn't have a pat answer.

Now, businessman and Montana rancher Tom Siebel has come along and gotten involved in the fight. When he learned how serious the methamphetamine problem had become in that state, he decided to do something about it.

The Montana Meth Project was born. Compelling TV public service announcements have "significantly reduced first-time use" and helped reduce meth use overall in that state. And I'm really glad to hear the state of Arizona has also begun to air these startling TV spots.

They're the most graphic, in-your-face prevention spots I've ever seen. Learn more about the project and take a look yourself. Do you think they're effective?

I hope other states buy into them and through their airing, we can begin to chip away at the horrifying statistics related to meth use. And spare families from the pain and agony of an addicted child.

https://www.montanameth.org/index.php

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