Letter: Pay attention to new Mexican meth scourge

Every so often I would see or read a news story about a meth lab bust in South Carolina, reminding me what a terrible drug it is. Recently, however, I read an Associated Press story that painted a different picture. While I always knew drugs like cocaine and heroin were smuggled into the United States from Mexico, the Associated Press said now the drug cartels had expanded to meth, too.

Not only is this Mexican meth more potent — almost 100 percent pure, by most accounts — but the cartels have increased their reach to smaller communities around the country. No longer are these gangs limited to cities; now they are in rural areas, as well.

South Carolina has done an admirable job fighting domestic meth lab production, but now we must turn our attention to fighting these foreign drugs. I hope that lawmakers make sure to provide law enforcement officers with all of the necessary tools to push this awful scourge out of our state for good.

Reagan Woods

Mt. Pleasant