Editor's Note: Meth: A serious problem to focus on for this year

When our new reporter Paul Dragu started covering news along the Hi-Line, he quickly noticed one thing: Use of meth was something that was involved in a lot of news stories:

• The Havre school board hired a part-time drug counsellor at the high school. Abuse of prescription drugs was a concern, but the biggest topic was meth.

• In many of the court cases he covered, the reason given for the criminal behavior was very often meth.

• Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation is considering banning drug dealers in general and meth dealers specifically from the reservation.

• The second story Paul ever did was a meth symposium at Rocky Boy.

• Now, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has declared a state of emergency because meth use has gotten so far out of hand.

The legalization of marijuana is likely to be a hot topic in Montana over the next year. Groups are proposing three initiatives that could change pot laws in the state. Some want marijuana completely outlawed, others would allow medical marijuana and some want to see marijuana legalized, as Colorado and Washington have done.

But when it comes to long-term effects, meth seems to be what area residents are most concerned with. Sometimes, the concern is bordering on panic.

The dangers of marijuana can be debated. There is no debate over the devastating effects of meth.

People throughout the Hi-Line tell stories of friends or relatives who are suffering from the effects of meth — parents who are unable to take care of their children, good students whose grades plummet, peaceful people who turn violent.

As a result, police are overworked, courts are overloaded, lives are ruined, people who could contribute to the state become wards of society.

During the coming year, the Havre Daily News will be keeping a close eye on the meth epidemic. We will focus on the problem and the effects, but just as much on the many good people in the area who are working on solutions.

People who are trying hard to stop the out-of-town pushers who are selling their poison to people in our communities.

People who are working with young people, trying to show them that there are a lot of things that will give them hope while meth can provide only misery.

This will be an important part of our coverage this year. We hope to hear from you on stories we can be doing — stories about people who are recovering from meth addiction, people who are working to rid their communities of the problem, idea on how best to move forward.

On both reservations, in the city of Havre and in many rural areas, meth is taking hold. But in each of these areas, people are fighting back. We look forward to covering the communities as they fight back.

(John Kelleher is managing editor of the Havre Daily News. Contact him at [email protected], 406-265-6795 ext. 17 or 406-390-0798.)