FIGHT AGAINST METH IS INDIVIDUAL BATTLE

Law enforcement can try hard to crush the ample supply of methamphetamine. They can win a skirmish here and there. But the outcome of the effort to thwart this illegal menace is precarious. The secret weapon isn't more money. We are the answer.

The battle will be won one child, one family, one community at a time. Without attacking the insatiable demand, the enemy called methamphetamine will never be vanquished. When it comes to drugs, demand is just as consequential as supply, perhaps even more so. So where do we start?

Knowledge is power, and that certainly it true for drugs. Americans must step up education efforts from youngsters to gray-haired seniors.

Meth is known for its euphoria -- a high similar to winning a lottery jackpot. And it can last four to 24 hours. At the start, the drug seems to empower users with boundless energy and little interest in food. Sound appealing?

It's time to add a large dose of truth-in-advertising. Meth is one of the most addictive drugs. It takes over lives. Users ultimately must choose between jobs, friends and family -- or meth. Meth usually wins.

For their loyalty, users get paranoia, unbearable fevers, hallucinations, convulsions, severe loss of appetite that borders on malnutrition, tooth decay, open sores and much more. The physical ailments will probably be accompanied by a criminal conviction. If the addict lands in the federal system, even a first-time offender can get more than five years in jail. No probation. No parole.

A new government meth campaign aimed at teen-agers embraces this truth-in-advertising approach. It's long overdue. "Just Say No" is too simplistic for today's sophisticated teens. They need to know exactly what meth does to their bodies. They need to know ingredients like drain cleaner and starter fluid are used to make this drug. It's not scare tactics. It's reality.

Businesses need to get educated about meth as well. Most of the meth ingredients can be purchased over the counter. Retailers need to keep an eye on large purchases of these items. Nobody needs a whole case of cold tablets or starter fluid. Such purchases should set off an alarm. Businesses need to be an active partner in the meth fight.

Employers must also take a look at their drug policies. About 70 percent of drug users hold a job. But these workers cost millions in lost productivity, absences and injuries on the job. That's why more and more businesses favor random drug testing.

Parents need to talk to their children about drugs. Like sex, it's a tough subject, but it's worth the effort. Don't wait too long. The average child tries alcohol at age 12 and marijuana at age 13. Grade-schoolers in Missouri have been found with meth.

Parents must also remember that they are role models. The "do as I say, not as a do" approach is useless. Youths see and understand more than we realize. Schools need to continue their campaigns against drugs as well. And it needs to begin in kindergarten, with age-appropriate drug education at each grade. Virtual reality is popular with today's youngsters. Wouldn't it be great if students could see the virtual reality of meth's destruction without ever having to experience the pain?

The Southeast Missourian is in the middle of an eight-day special report on meth abuse. The series will help people learn more about the dangers of meth. On Sunday, the final day of the series, the editorial page will look at the problem of reporting numbers that don't add up.

Read the series, and then attend Monday night's free community forum on meth. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Listen for yourself, and ask your own questions. It's time to leave the sidelines.

Reducing the demand for drugs is everyone's responsibility. This pro-active stance from the cradle to the grave is the only way American can beat drugs like meth.