Social Issues

June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

A family devastated by meth

Methamphetamine is one of the most highly addictive drugs to come along in years. Experts say meth quickly turns casual users into addicts. They become consumed by the drug. They leave a trail of burned bridges and broken trust. This is a story of how meth has devastated the lives of one northern Minnesota family. At the center is a woman named Rubetta. She's making her fourth attempt to break free of meth, and pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

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June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

Treating meth addiction requires a different approach

Methamphetamine scares people. The stimulant is extremely addictive, and stories are common of the outrageous behavior of meth addicts. The myths about meth are common too. One of them is that it's almost impossible to kick the habit for good. Addiction counselors say that's just not true. But recovering from meth addiction can require some new techniques.

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June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

Meth addicts try to educate students

Schools face tight budgets and a crush of issues that demand their time and attention. Some law enforcement officials say schools need to make methamphetamine awareness and prevention a priority.

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June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

Meth makes its way into Minnesota schools

Some Minnesota high school students say it's easier to get meth than alcohol. There are no hard numbers, but reports from around the state indicate more kids are using methamphetamine. Experts say most schools aren't doing enough to prevent the spread of meth. There's no state drug prevention funding for Minnesota schools. Nearly 4,000 schools share $6 million in federal funding that also must fund violence prevention programs.

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June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

Meth in Minnesota

Meth use has been rising for years in many states around the country, and Minnesota is no different. Law enforcement officials say methamphetamine is now the drug of choice in rural Minnesota. And the Twin Cities has become a transit point for the drug as well. The costs of meth addiction reach across all segments of our communities.

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June 14, 2004 4:00 AM

Children are the unintended victims of meth

There are children in Minnesota who live where meth is made. There are children whose parents use methamphetamine. In fact, when adults are arrested for using or making meth, one-third of them are the parents of small children. In one Minnesota county, there is a baby born addicted to meth every week. These are the unintended victims. The people who take care of these children feel overwhelmed. But there isn't enough data to attract the attention of policy-makers.

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June 14, 2004 12:01 AM

Hospice movement reaches out to immigrants

The hospice care movement arrived in Minnesota a quarter century ago. In that time, the service has slowly caught on with Minnesotans. About 25 percent of the state's terminally ill patients use hospice to help them die at home. But hospice use is much lower among the state's diverse population of immigrants. There are lots of reasons why, and hospice officials hope they can overcome most of them.

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June 11, 2004 2:00 PM

Meth presents new dangers for law enforcement

Law enforcement officials say methamphetamine is now the drug of choice in rural Minnesota. It's easy to get and it's easy to make. Cops are trained to deal with drugs and drug users, but meth presents new challenges. Meth users are aggressive and can turn violent. People use caustic chemicals to make the drug, and that makes meth labs a health hazard. Minnesota cops are learning how to deal with the changes meth has made to their jobs.

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June 11, 2004 2:00 PM

Meth poses a danger to first responders

Minnesota cops are not the only ones who have to deal with the dangers of meth. Doctors, nurses, EMTs and firefighters all have to worry about being exposed to chemicals from meth labs. The State Department of Health is working to train all first responders on safely dealing with meth and the people who make it.

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June 7, 2004 1:00 PM

St. Cloud Somalis turned away from taxi driving jobs

An old city ordinance in St. Cloud forbids immigrants from driving taxis. City officials are moving to strike down the law. But Somalis in town say it's not just the city ordinance that stands between them and taxi driving jobs.

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