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Social Issues

Meth labs are hazardous to health

It's not just the use of methamphetamine that creates health problems. Exposure to the chemicals used to make the stuff can also cause a variety of health effects. Children who live in or near meth labs are especially susceptible. Law enforcement officials, first responders, and hospital workers are also at risk, even if they are exposed to the chemicals for a relatively short period of time.

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Meth in Minnesota: The costly addiction

Meth is taking its toll in Minnesota. Methamphetamine, a highly-addictive drug that's been around for decades, has become the drug of choice for many in recent years because it's cheap, easy to make, and a "good high." But it is a costly drug in terms of the devastation it causes for users and their families. One family in northern Minnesota has lived that nightmare for years.

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A familiar debate: Jail or treatment?

The effects of methamphetamine use are working their way through our criminal justice system. The rapid rise in meth arrests is one of the main factors in sharply higher prison populations. The cost of housing drug offenders has renewed an old debate -- what works best, prison or treatment? The debate over state drug policies came into sharp focus this year in a case involving methamphetamine, jail time and a young Minnesota mother.

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ER visits show upward trend in meth use

Hospital emergency rooms are often the places where the impact of the latest drug craze is seen first. Drug users who overdose, or experience serious side effects, are taken to emergency rooms for treatment. Twin Cities emergency rooms have seen their meth-related visits more than double from 1995 to 2002.

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Meth is not just a rural problem anymore

We've heard a lot about the methamphetamine problem in rural communities. And small towns are indeed fighting a dangerous battle against the cheap and powerful stimulant. But in some ways it is the urban tale that reveals much about the roots of meth in Minnesota -- and its future here.

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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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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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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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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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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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