Wyoming federal judge urges residents to fight drugs
January 8, 2010
Casper, Wyoming: William Downes, federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, urged Wyoming residents to take a more active role in combating drug abuse and drug related crimes in the State of Wyoming.
Judge Downes made these remarks on the opening day of the Wyoming Methamphetamine and Substance Abuse Conference which was held in Casper. The judge challenged conference attendees to take a stand by stating: “what I’d like you to do is talk to your uninformed, ignorant family and friends and neighbors and tell them they have a stake in this battle, too.” Those harsh words came after the judge said that many Americans are "ignorant of the full extent of the drug problem and unwilling to address it in a coherent way".[1]
Despite the fact that use of methamphetamine has declined in Wyoming, the judge cited the recent drug wars in Mexico as a reason why people cannot underestimate the greater issue of how drugs affect America.
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