Meth overdose

In five years, meth-related arrests in Minnesota have increased by 100 percent, according to a survey released yesterday by the National Association of Counties. We're not exactly alone in this gloomy picture of a future of increased numbers of teeth-grinding addicts, exorbitant meth-lab clean-up costs, higher incarceration rates, overcrowded prisons, and rot-mouth spottings: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming also reported a jump of 100 percent in meth arrests.

But what's most disturbing about this trend is that 69 percent of Minnesota counties reported an increase in out-of-home placements for this same time period, meaning that kids are being plopped into the rotation of the social-service system and foster homes while their parents are in jail, awaiting trial, or refusing treatment. 90 percent of the county officials surveyed in Minnesota said the nature of the meth-user parent has increased the difficulty of family reunification.Despite these findings, the federal government still considers marijuana to be the biggest threat. Because, you know, it makes people really hungry and all.