I love OREGON.. but another question about the meth use (Eugene: apartment complexes, crime rates)

[CantWait2Bthere]

Hey folks...i just discovered this forum tonight and I am so glad I did. My husband and I will be moving to Oregon within the year , Lord willing. He retires from 20 years in the Marine Corps and if he can get a decent job we are out of here. He is orginally from Northern Cal and I have grown up down here in Southern Cal....and just like some of you who have relocated to Oregon we are both SICK OF CALIFORNIA. Ooops...that may have come out kinda harsh. Actually California is a nice state...its just gotten to be too much of a strip mall, tract home, "everybody in a hurry", cell phone dominated, "looking out for no. 1", ME First, suburban sprawling little corner of the world and we just thought we would like to see what else is out there and we beleive we have found it in ORegon. Actually I have been to ORegon several times when my grandmother use to live in McMinville before she passed away and as a child I have always loved the Willimette Valley. But you all have heard this all before from us whiney Californians so enough of that.

So I have to ask...and I am sure it's been asked before but is the meth problem really as bad as I hear? I just got a phone call from a long lost relative that another long lost relative is facing a life sentence for breaking in and murdering an elderly gentleman all for METH. I looked and looked but I could not find any info on such a case on the internet. Supposedly this happened this past summer and it was near Salem? Does this sound familiar to anyone? I would love any infomation regarding this case. Don't even ask why I have to turn to a forum to ask questions about relatives but let's just say I was adopted into this family by my father and now that my father has passed away I was "adopted out". But I still care enough about the well being of the relative in question. I knew her as a girl and it breaks my heart to think this could be true.

Well...this whole mention of meth is sad anyway... to think anyone can easily get caught up in it's trap. I still love Oregon and plan on moving there but this subject has been heavy on my mind since I got this news.

Thanks in advance to any and all who respond.

Peace.

[Muhnay]

I was speaking with a cop friend of mine, he is from Portland.. And yes there is a huge meth problem up there. He told me that there is a program to give clean needles to users just to help curb aides as well as other ill effects of dirty needles. But Meth is becoming a problem all over.. even here in El Paso TX, meth is on the rise.. we have locked all our meds up that are used to create meth, in an attempt to make it harder for meth makers to get the tools they need.

Congrats to your husband on his 20 years.. I am shocked he is being allowed to retire with the stop action in place.. but if so, I am sure there will be many oppertunities for him on the civilian side.

good luck on finding info on that case..

[freedom]

Last year in Josephine County (southern OR) there were 65 meth labs busted. This year 2 labs were busted. I personally know the Sgt. in charge and He says that the new laws on Ephedrines (cold medicines) has helped greatly in the mom and pop set ups. The hole is being filled now by mexican manufacturers coming up the I-5 and coming from the eastern states as well, many from Denver.
The community is robust to help those that need to get off of it, and to incarcerate those that turn to crime to finance their curse, I think the youth education regarding the dangers of meth and job opportunities coupled with a foundation of happy homes are our greatest assets to this problem.

Some think that So. Oregon is the only place meth is a problem, unfortunately it is statewide, nationwide.

freedom

[PDXsailor]

It is everywhere and has been everywhere for years. First it was bikers, then it was DIY labs, now Mexicans supplying it, but the demand and use has always been around. It is only recently that the media is making a big deal out of it and it is now being blamed for every crime and accident.

[ohmy]

[quote=CantWait2Bthere;248190]Hey folks...i just discovered this forum tonight and I am so glad I did. My husband and I will be moving to Oregon within the year , Lord willing. He retires from 20 years in the Marine Corps and if he can get a decent job we are out of here. He is orginally from Northern Cal and I have grown up down here in Southern Cal....


Agghh, we hate Californians, go away! Just kidding, welcome to a nicer state. Good luck finding a "decent" job, wages might be lower here (I don't know) but I do know the cost of living is way lower, houses are way cheaper, and there are some decent jobs here especially if you have a college degree. Our minimum wage is also the highest, which is both good and bad.



[quote] So I have to ask...and I am sure it's been asked before but is the meth problem really as bad as I hear?


YES! Freakin' meth-heads, I hate them. I have had my car stereo stolen 12 times, and a whole garage full of tools and car parts stolen. Never got any of it back, and it's probably due to meth use. We have so many meth users that you can't buy certain cold medicines (they are used in making meth) unless you ask for them, and you can't buy more than I think 1 or 2 boxes at a time. (which is stupid, and didn't change anything) Meth is a big problem here, and I don't know why that is. Contact the Salem police department to learn more 1-503-588-6123. They might even be able to help you find out more information about your relative.




[quote] I just got a phone call from a long lost relative that another long lost relative is facing a life sentence for breaking in and murdering an elderly gentleman all for METH. I looked and looked but I could not find any info on such a case on the internet. Supposedly this happened this past summer and it was near Salem? Does this sound familiar to anyone?



It doesn't sound familiar to me, but things like that have happened here. I try not to watch the news too much. I hope that your relative learns from thier mistake, and in this case going to jail might be good because they will get clean and not be able to use meth anymore. Sorry, I don't have much sympathy for people like that, because they chose to use meth. It's really sad though. I feel sorry for the old man's family too.


Hopefully a solution to the meth problem will be found one day.

peace

ohmy

[snb3]

For those that think Meth or any other drug issues are only relegated to certain areas or persons away from their home is simple wishful thinking. I read a post where they said Meth in OR is only a problem in hick, uneducated redneck areas away from the more "liberally educated" areas like Eugene & Portland. There are people here in LA, who chuckle at the thought of anyone in OR being so cosmo, with drug issues. From what I can see around here, the more educated you are, the more likely you are to use drugs, recreational and habitual. And I wouldn't discount anyone from social being naive about these things, as you know; LA is the Meth Capital (sad but true) & a short drive from any other drugs.

Its an unfortunate reality in the US that drugs are everywhere and available to anyone who seeks it.

[Steve97415]

CantWait2Bthere, I think you are entitled to a forthright answer to your question about the geographic distribution of the problem , even if the answer is somewhat opinionated. But I'll be accused of ________-bashing for any region of the state that I might name, so I'll leave any geographic detective work up to you. I would suggest however that you read the cover story for the current (Jan. 2007) Jefferson Monthly. Here are the first three sentences of the lead-in on the contents page for John Darling's story:

"Methamphetamine use in southern Oregon has spiraled out of control. There has been a giant increase in meth related crimes in our region, as well as an unprecedented number of children placed in foster care because of meth related troubles in their fractured homes. Users face arrests and brief incarcerations (if any at all), only to be released into a society that doesn't seem to be equipped to treat meth addicts."

It would be best to read the whole article so you can weigh the validity of its claims for yourself and decide if its objectivity might have been tainted by College brainwashed liberal journalists .

[Muhnay]

How can I get a copy of that?


Here you go..

http://www.ijpr.org/Feature.asp?FeatureID=557

[CantWait2Bthere]

Thanks to all of you for the info. I at least now have some facts to validate the rumors and they serve as a head's up for what we may encounter. But serisously I won't let some meth heads scare me away from what I think is a beautiful place. Everytime I am in Oregon I feel a traqulity that is very rare here in Southern Cal. I mean, even a day at the beach is no "day at the beach". Since we have shared with others about our plans to relocate all we seem to get is the whole "oh it rains there alot, hope you like cool weather." Well, my response to that has lately been, "I would rather be a cool swan than a hot rat."

And duh,,,I just remembered this, ( it makes my whole question about the meth use in Oregon seem ironic now) but Riverside County, where we live now is known as the meth capital of California. And so far we have not been directly affected by that. I am going to look up the article in Jefferson Monthly that Steve mentioned.

And Munhay, yes believe it. The Corps had my man long enough and took him to Iraq 3 times so I guess they figured it's fair to let him go. He already got that approved when he put in his retirement package. Once I get a chance I want to look up what kind of benefits Oregon offers veterans. I thought I read somewhere that disabled vets get a break on propety taxes?

And OHMY...yeah right- I know there is some truth to your joke...lol. If I lived in Oregon already I sure wouldn't want more Californians moving up there! But we are nice trust me.

We were there this past summer and we both really liked Corvallis. We also enjoyed Eugene. I noticed you can get more house for your dollar in Eugene though. Are any of you from either town?

Thanks again for all the responses. Peace

[Clear2land]

Unless there are huge numbers of Oregonians on drugs, I am not going to let the number of drug addicts’ dictate where I choose to live or where I fly. We spend far too much time concentrating on reasons not to live in Oregon than we do reasons to live in Oregon. I think that is wrong. We are spending far too much time talking about on Meth and rain instead of parks and rivers. We are complaining about the lack of libraries and cost of living instead of beautiful mountains and camping. Not one person has mentioned how good the water is right out of the tap. The best water I ever drank was at a fall at Crater Lake. It was ice cold and quenched my thirst. I would rather see us talk about the quality of Oregon life instead of the hate Oregonians have for their neighbors to the South. I see complaints about the high cost of real estate but no one wants to talk about The Farmers Market. We should be talking about fishing and food instead of bad drivers and bad schools.

Dan