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Meth to Their Madness

If you've spent any time talking to officials with the National Association of Counties in recent years, you've certainly heard something about the methamphetamine epidemic. ...

If you've spent any time talking to officials with the National Association of Counties in recent years, you've certainly heard something about the methamphetamine epidemic. They'll tell you it's put a huge strain on hospitals, law enforcement and environmental cleanup efforts -- all before they even get to meth's health effects on users.

Jack Shafer, the media critic of Slate magazine, has long been skeptical of the scare claims about meth. He's made it something of a hobbyhorse and here he takes his best shot at NACo's study, released last week, on the effect of meth on hospital ERs.

Alan Greenblatt is the editor of Governing. He can be found on Twitter at @AlanGreenblatt.