Federal charges are being pursued in the case. Meanwhile, family, friends and community members are left in mourning. Local officials and family members have fingered a dangerous, mind-altering drug. It's called methamphetamine. Manufactured in clandestine make-shift laboratories, meth may cause severe physical harm, including brain damage, heart attacks and seizures.
Usage can cause violent, erratic behavior.
It's ripping apart the social fabric of many rural communities in Iowa. It's sad but certain. Quick and easy access to meth is a reality in Iowa. Seeking input from concerned citizens and community leaders, I led last year a series of open forums in 14 Iowa communities to discuss the increased use of meth in Iowa and juvenile delinquency. At that time, Iowans expressed widespread concern.