craigdailypress.com

It's no revelation to state that methamphetamine use and distribution has been nothing short of a plague on the Craig and Moffat County community.

The tentacles of its insidious existence touch nearly all facets of public interest - crime, government, finances, health care - and also more importantly, individuals and families.

In response to this growing epidemic, the local organization, Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse, was created.

In its tenure, the group has done many worthwhile things, but perhaps none so great as last week's "Not Even Once" Week.

The week, an anti-methamphetamine campaign, was full of educational outreach efforts designed to raise awareness and, more specifically, provide children with information that would steer them away from future use.

For this, the Editorial Board commends COMA, as well as partnering agencies, the Colorado Meth Project and the Boys & Girls Club of Craig, as should the community.

Let's start with the slogan.

"Not Even Once" is a phrase that found its way into the minds of local school children, and based on the slim opening meth needs before locking someone into addiction, Editorial Board members feel the slogan was powerful and appropriate.

Too often in the fight against drugs the same old tired slogans are used. "Just say no," comes to mind.

But "Not Even Once" was something new and different and had the added benefit of carrying an important truth behind it.

The campaign also included COMA members submitting short written pieces to the newspaper, detailing why they became involved in the group and what the battle against meth means to them.

These members varied from law enforcement officers, who outlined the effect meth has had on local crime, to people affected by the drug either personally or through a relationship with someone else.

These stories, too, made an impact.

Lastly, and most importantly, COMA got into local schools to present meth information to students.

These presentations and seminars gave students valuable information, and hopefully, our students will use that information someday to make healthy choices when faced with a decision whether or not to use.

At the end of the day, the war against meth and the future well-being of the community will be won or lost on those student decisions.

Thanks to COMA and their partnering groups, the Editorial Board feels that students now have a solid base on which to make the right one.