Hispanics Are Target Of New Crystal Meth Warning

WBBN Chicago

Crystal methamphetamine use among Hispanics is the focus Monday as representatives from the White House and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America meet in Chicago.

WBBM Newsradio 780's Steve Miller reports the devastating effects of crystal meth is the heart of the message that some anti-drug activists say has been lost on many Hispanics.

And those activists are in Chicago Monday to repeat the message on meth - in English and in Spanish - as they release a series of public service announcements.

Alina Diaz of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America says fewer Hispanic parents talk to their children about the dangers of drugs - compared to African American and white parents.

"I'd like to encourage parents and families to talk to each other and talk about the dangers of drugs - to confront the problem, as opposed to ignoring it. And even if you don't think there's a problem of drugs in your home, I encourage parents to talk to your kids and let them know what they could face out there."

"It's a very realistic campaign. We're not sugar-coating our message. We're telling young adults exactly how meth can destroy you."

The nation's drug czar says Hispanic teens are almost twice as likely to have tried methamphetamines than white or black teenagers.

John Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, was in Chicago Monday. He released the new series of anti-meth advertisements in Spanish and English.

Some of the ads emphasize the physical damage meth use can cause, such as rotting teeth and skin lesions.

Walters spoke in downtown Chicago at Prevention First, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of substance abuse and related issues.

Methamphetamine can come in the form of a crystal-like powder or rocklike chunks. It is an addictive stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken orally.

Two-thirds of the country's meth supply come from labs in Mexico and Southern California run by street gangs and the mob.

Meth can be made out of household ingredients such as cold medication, drain cleaner and antifreeze.

Illinois and several other states have put limits on how much cold medicine people can buy.

By Steve Miller