Survey results: One in six young adults in Arizona has tried meth

One in six Arizonans 18 to 24 years old has tried meth, according to a new statewide survey. But it may be more out of curiosity than lifestyle or habit: The telephone poll finds that only 4 percent in that age group admitted to actually using it in the last year.

Attorney General Terry Goddard said that is still twice the national average. He said that's why he and officials from several counties have banded together to run commercials and buy billboard space to try to scare teens from trying meth even once.

But the survey shows - and Goddard conceded - it's a tricky balance between instilling legitimate fear and making claims teens will dismiss as ridiculous.

For example, the poll shows that 95 percent young adults believe trying meth even once can result in addiction. That, he said, is true.

But 84 percent believe a single use can lead to tooth decay.

"They know among their peers (who have tried meth) that hasn't happened," Goddard said.

The survey, conducted for the Arizona Meth Project, also found that 53 percent of young adults say it is easy for them to get meth.

Among those in the 12-17 age group, 4 percent reported trying meth once, with half that many in the past year. And 37 percent said they easily could obtain the drug.

A full 95 percent believe trying the drug just once can lead to addiction. And more than nine out of 10 believe a single use can lead to paranoia, violence, brain damage, having sex with someone they don't want to, or death.

But more than half of young adults and one-third of younger teens said meth helps people lose weight. And the percentage of both groups who believe the drug provides energy, helps deal with boredom and helps people escape problems is in the double digits.

Cindy Schaider, coordinator of the Casa Grande Alliance, said that contradiction reflects human nature.

"Who of us doesn't know where heart disease comes from?" said Schaider, whose group is dealing with the meth problem in Central Arizona.

"We know we shouldn't smoke, we know we shouldn't be overweight, we all should exercise more,'' Schaider said. But she said the attitude is "that doesn't apply to me."

Dale Guthrie, a Mesa pediatrician said he finds it disturbing that so many believe meth is a good way to lose weight. He said there may be weight loss - through malnutrition.

Goddard said the Meth Project is trying to provide accurate information in hopes of curbing meth use. But he conceded that is a very tricky balance.

"Nobody wants to have the 'Reefer Madness' reaction, where young people look at the ads and say, 'I know that's not true and therefore I'll discount everything that you say,' " Goddard said.

That 1936 film was a fictional account of what happens to high schoolers when they are lured to try marijuana, including rape and insanity.

He said many teens who haven't tried meth do have friends who have. And he said they know some of the things claimed about what happens to someone who uses meth just once are not true.

Schaider said the Meth Project is trying to avoid that in their radio ads by actually using the voices of people who have used meth who are telling their own stories. And she said the TV commercials and billboards, while using actors, are based on real stories.