If attendance at the third Snohomish County Youth Meth Summit is any indication, the problem isn’t going away.
Sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office and other county departments, the summit is designed to raise awareness about the prevalence and dangers of methamphetamine use. The event draws thousands and although organizers reported 200 more attendees than last year, it is a pity that even more young people aren’t exposed to the information.
Several school districts in the county embrace the summit and facilitate attendance. Other districts leave it up to each school, class or individual to decide to use their own time to go to the all-day summit. Mountlake Terrace High School sent 40 students, a teacher and nurse. A bus load, along with the drug and alcohol counselor, went from Jackson High School. While students from other middle and high schools did attend, a more formalized opportunity could help make a larger dent in meth use in the area.
In 2004, nearly 500 youths received drug and alcohol assessment orders from Snohomish County Juvenile Court with more than half using meth. Meth is easy to get and has supplanted marijuana as the drug of choice other than alcohol.
It is true that public schools continue to be charged with more and more goals to accomplish. However, adding an event such as the meth summit into the mix is one that should be taken seriously
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