John Walters, the White House National Drug Control policy director, was at the central Seattle Public Library on Thursday to launch a nine-state, $10 million anti- methamphetamine campaign. "We are trying to say, one, don't start [using meth], and two, if you're in trouble, get help," Walters said at the news conference. In addition to Washington, the media blitz targets Oregon, California, Idaho, Alaska, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Tony Radovich, a member of the King County HIV/AIDS Planning Council, welcomed the campaign but expressed concern that it focuses only on meth use in rural populations. "Within the city limits, meth impacts a whole different community," he said, noting the drug is contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the gay community.

www.aegis.org