The Real Impact
While the “Meth Epidemic” is real and deserves a lot of attention in some parts of the country, I hope that it doesn’t hide a deeper and more devastating drug problem that is even more widespread and dangerous. Here is a selection from the Minot, ND Daily News as found in the Policy Impact Daily Digest:

Alcohol Packs a Punch
By: Ken Crites Minot Daily News September 25, 2005
MINOT, ND - Minot Police Chief Dan Draovitch says drugs and drug abuse don't compare to the effects of alcohol. Draovitch said, "In my 37 years plus service on the police department, I haven't seen anything that causes more problems than alcohol."

The chief was responding to questions about driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). "It's a problem all over our state," he said. "Forty to 50 percent of drivers involved in fatality accidents are drunk behind the wheel. It only takes one accident to kill or injure someone.

"I'll go so far as to say that alcohol is the number one problem in the state of North Dakota," Draovitch continued. "It's just too accepted in our society. You just can't hardly have a social event without booze. Sometimes social drinking turns into some awful circumstances. I see it as a problem all over the state."

He said the last Legislature spent a lot of time debating the extension of drinking hours in the state to 2 a.m. "I'm glad the beverage dealers didn't do it here. In this city and county, we just don't need another hour to drink."

He said with a 2 a.m. closing of bars, there isn't much time for the effects of alcohol to wear off. He said a body loses about one ounce of alcohol an hour. "Somebody who drinks 15 beers doesn't have much time to get it out of their system before going to work the next day.

"That's not a popular view, going against alcohol."

He said alcohol also causes problems for young people, specifically underage drinkers. He said it's a parental responsibility, but with all the commercials on TV extolling the glamour of alcohol, it's tough to get the point across, especially if the parents are also drinkers.

"If they see their parents drunk," he said, "the chances are excellent the young people will do the very thing they hate.

Copyright 2005 Minot Daily News
From Policy Impacts Daily Digest

Make no mistake about it, meth is a major and serious drug, public health, and addiction problem. It tears people and lives and families apart. Children in such families are at HIGH risk. I am NOT meaning to downplay the problem in many parts of the country where the meth problem is exploding.

But we cannot and must not overlook the more profound problems that alcohol and tobacco (the #1 and #2 drugs of choice!) have on our whole society. From drunken driving to incredibly high medical costs in diseases related to both, we as a country are paying over and over and over for these. Not that we should go back to prohibition. That sure didn't work! But a broader and better funded prevention program and a broader and better funded treatment program will work. It has already with tobacco in spite of the attempts to sabotage it.

We are in need of comprehensive and broad-culturally aware programs for all of this. It will cost some money, but it will, if even moderately successful, bring down health care costs for many.

Not to mention giving a greater quality of life to many!