by Senator Brent Hill

Do you know how far you'd have to drive to find the methamphetamine lab nearest your home? The scary truth is you can probably just walk. Many of us believe that drug abuse is a big city problem. We think that drug users belong to some other segment of society-the uneducated, the unemployed, the irreligious, the dysfunctional. But, unfortunately, even some of our most privileged young people are becoming infected by this national epidemic.

I have always been a great defender of the youth in our community. They are some of the most exemplary citizens of this country. Most of them are blessed with caring parents, teachers, neighbors and church leaders. But it is no secret that today's adolescents face challenges far more dangerous than most of us experienced in our youth. One of the greatest is the devastating influence of illicit drugs.

Last year 122 methamphetamine labs were seized in Idaho. One of those was on Fourth South Street in Rexburg. One was found a half mile east of Twin Bridges in Madison County. Meth labs were also found in a car on Main Street in St. Anthony and on 6000 South in Rexburg. 115 people were arrested last year in Madison and Fremont Counties for drug and narcotic violations, and local law enforcement officers estimate that they apprehend less than ten percent of the offenders.

The use of illicit drugs among eighth graders is up 150 percent nationally over the past five years. Early drug use often leads to other forms of unhealthy, inappropriate behavior. Illegal drugs are associated with premature sexual activity (with attendant risks of unwanted pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases), delinquency, and involvement in criminal activities.

Local officials estimate that over 80 percent of crimes in our area are committed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which is consistent with national statistics. How many fewer robberies, assaults, rapes and domestic violence cases would occur absent the influence of alcohol and drugs?

Idaho taxpayers shell out over $130 million each year to house its 5,800 prison inmates. How much of that could be avoided if illegal drugs had not provoked those crimes? How much could we save on police protection, adjudication costs, and attorney fees if drug abuse could be curtailed? The social costs of drug abuse are staggering. The human costs are even greater-broken families, broken lives, broken hearts.

The most effective deterrent to drug abuse is the family. Every family has expectations of behavior that are determined by principles and standards. These add up to "values." Social, family, and religious values give young people reasons to say no and help them stick to their decisions. Here are some ways to help make your family's values clear:

• Talk to your kids about drugs. Teach them the devastating facts about street drugs. Education is key to the prevention of drug abuse. Building a close relationship with them when they are young will make it easier for them to come to you when they have a problem and will help you become more sensitive to their mood changes. With a closer relationship to you, they will be less likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.
• Get involved. Know what your children listen to and read and how they spend time on the Internet and with their friends. Talking with your children about their interests opens up an opportunity for you to share your values. And monitoring your children's activities is an important way to lower their chances of getting involved in potentially harmful situations. Unsupervised children simply have more opportunities to experiment with risky behaviors, including the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, and they may start substance abuse at earlier ages. Your involvement shows your children that they and their activities are worthwhile and will help them identify and pursue positive goals as they get older.
• Set rules. Make clear, sensible rules for your children and enforce them with consistency and appropriate consequences. Help them develop daily habits of self-discipline.
• Teach kids to choose good friends. The pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs comes most often from wanting to be accepted, wanting to belong, and wanting to be noticed. Get to know your children's friends and help your children learn what qualities to look for in their friends. Teach them what to say if offered harmful substances.
• Be a role model. Think about what you say and how you act in front of your children. If you want your children to avoid substance abuse, you must not take part in illegal, unhealthy, or dangerous practices related to alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.

To protect our families, we must also protect our communities from the destructive influences of drug abuse. We should learn the signs of a meth lab and report suspicious behavior to local law enforcement. We can adopt drug-free policies in our businesses and support anti-drug campaigns in our schools. Grants from the Drug-free Community Support Program are available through Madison School District (359-3300) to fund neighborhood socials where a peace officer will discuss the problems of crime and drug abuse.

Drug abuse is a problem. It is not someone else's problem, it is ours. The only way to turn this problem around is for every citizen to turn awareness into action; for each of us to work together in our families, our communities, our schools and businesses. As American anthropologist Margaret Mead stated, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

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