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Survey: 1 in 4 teens fail to fear meth

WASHINGTON - Nearly a quarter of teens say it would be "very easy" or "somewhat easy" to get methamphetamine, a survey released Tuesday shows.

One in three teens also believes there is only a "slight risk" or "no risk" in trying meth once or twice, according to the study by the Meth Project, a nonprofit antidrug group.

Twenty-four percent of teens agreed with the statement that meth "makes you feel euphoric or very happy," while 22 percent said meth "helps you lose weight" and 22 percent said it "helps you deal with boredom."

Lawmakers and government officials said the survey highlights the need for an aggressive public education campaign.

"For kids, meth is death," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "And if we really want to do something about improving the survival of our adolescents and help them become healthy adults, we've got to tackle this problem head on."

Of the teens who have tried meth, 77 percent reported they used the drug when they were 15 or younger, the survey showed.

The survey questioned 2,602 students ages 12 to 17 at 43 schools nationwide.

Information from Cox News was used in this report.

[Last modified September 19, 2007, 01:27:57]