Remembering the priorities

For all the recent talk about crystal meth, a little perspective is in order.

(Saskatoon's) public believes alcohol, followed by marijuana and crystal meth are the most abused substance in the province. Talwin/Ritalin, cocaine and solvent abuse, respectively, were considered less widespread. Regina respondents ranked the substances in the same order.
Regina Police Chief Cal Johnston said while alcohol abuse is certainly the biggest problem they face on a day-to-day basis, cocaine is probably next on that list and is, for now, a bigger problem than crystal meth...

And:

Brian Checkley, an addictions counsellor at the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc., said he hasn't dealt with a lot of crystal meth addicts in Regina and sees more cocaine and Talwin/Ritalin addicts than anything else. That, however, doesn't mean the problem isn't growing.

As important as it is to confront new issues, the poll shows the danger in giving complete attention to a new problem when past ones haven't been solved. We should be dealing with drugs and associated issues as a whole, not crystal meth to the exclusion of similar issues.