Meth in Minnesota: The Costly Addiction A life devastated by meth Children victimized by meth The challenges to law enforcement Making its way into schools Meth treatment needs a different approach A familiar debate: Jail or treatment? Not just a rural problem Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

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Your solutions
June 15, 2004

MPR News asked what you think should be done about the growing meth problem, and here is a sampling of possible solutions. We'll add more as they come in.

You can share your ideas to correct this issue.

St. Paul, Minn. —

Education

The meth problem is so interconnected, causing so many problems, in so many areas, that the solution is very complex and challenging. I feel a huge piece of the solution, however, is the education and awareness of the problem so that the infection does not continue to spread. Your attacking this problem openly, on the air, is a wonderful example.

I use "the movie making process" to create educational videos for young people that address social issues. Everyone has different learning styles. Lectures work for many people, but not all. And, in this day and age of digital mass media, many young people are more visually oriented, than inguistically oriented. Others, especially many of those that we are trying to reach with this information, are even more action oriented.

I am currently working with high school actors from Red Wing, Minnesota and Pierce County, Wisconsin, to create a movie project on the dangers of methamphetamine. Our goal is to create an engaging story the interests the audience, as well as includes much of the needed information about the devastating effects of this drug. Local police, probation, medical personnel and community members have participated and helped us film this video. In this way, a whole community comes together to create a pro-active project and help make a stand against this infectious and dangerous drug. Red Wing is a small town that is feeling the effects of this new meth problem, and Pierce County, right across the river, is a very rural community that is suffering from an influx of meth labs.

We are all hoping that by coming together and creating something innovative and educational, we can educate our communities quickly and slow down, if not stop, it's spread to other young people. By having young people star in the movie, they become teachers of their peers and have an active voice within the community.

-- Linda Flanders, WI

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