The methamphetamine epidemic is one of the most challenging and devastating issues our communities have ever faced. The crisis is adversely impacting our schools, community businesses, health and social services, law enforcement and families.

These difficult challenges are continuing to grow dramatically each year, not only in Lewis County, but across the country. Community risks are extremely broad and include child endangerment, housing contamination, lab cleanup, and medical health concerns.

Educational prevention and awareness is often not fully focused, organized nor adequately funded. Successful methamphetamine treatment programs require extensive effort and counseling time, special protocols, and additional funding.

Your public service agencies are being stretched to the limits of their effectiveness by this epidemic threat. The economic cost on the criminal justice system alone is staggering. In Lewis County, 70% of our tax dollar goes to support the criminal justice system. The majority of that percentage is directly related to this crisis. Even more staggering than the financial burden is the impact we are seeing upon our youth, families, environment, the community, and our businesses.

Law enforcement efforts can no longer be effective without a coordinated strategy that involves community participation. As your Sheriff, I am asking all concerned community members to unite together and assist me in our endeavors to put a stop to this crisis.

In bringing together our citizens, community leaders, business owners, educators, social and health services, we will develop appropriate strategies, action plans and solutions to address the methamphetamine crisis in Lewis County.

We all hold an important piece to this very complex puzzle. We each have an obligation to be part of the solution; to work together to address this crisis and the ones we will inevitably face in the future.