METH AND MATH

As a frequent visitor to Oregon, I am always interested in the news reported
in your papers.

On March 22, a WW article exposed shoddy investigative reporting in
The Oregonian regarding the supposed meth epidemic in Oregon. I have
come to expect the government-backed drug warriors to use anecdotes
with the same authority as statistical evidence.

It is disappointing to see a newspaper succumb to this tactic.

Mostly, it is a tragedy when precious dollars are diverted to law
enforcement and prison expansion at the expense of programs that could
have a real impact on social problems. The Oregonian is playing into
the hands of a few alarmists who know fear sells. It is gratifying to
see that Willamette Week has revealed the obvious: The Oregonian will
sacrifice facts for fiction if it boosts the bucks.

Claudia Little

San Diego