Is Meth Still a Problem in Idaho?

We don't hear a lot of stories these days about meth addiction in the Gem State.

So, did the problem just up and go away?

The short answer is no. It hasn't. Debbie Field is the chair for the State Board of Correction, and says that Idaho's meth problem is unfortunately alive and well:

Methamphetamine is a different kind of animal because it causes so much destruction in the community. Heroin and opioids are devastating but meth has an element of criminality that goes along with it, the abuse, the violence. I can tell you after looking at the numbers that our adult rate of people incarcerated is about the same as it was in 2007. Heartbreaking.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel. The amount of students who've used meth has dropped over 60% since 2007. So, the problem among young people is declining, but what can we do to stop it all together? Rob Stevenson, the director for Drug Free Idaho, thinks he has the right direction:

We think for a time we can make a difference and we don't realize it's continually educating new teens, new people on the devastation this drug causes. We can't be complacent.

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse, you can contact Druge Free Idaho at 570-6406.