Meth battle personal for Tempe mayor (Arizona)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0204EVhallman0204.html

Sarah Muench
The Arizona Republic


TEMPE -Municipal leaders across the state are fighting methamphetamine by restricting the sale of over-the-counter drugs used to make it. But for Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, it's personal.

Hallman's 37-year-old brother, Kelly, struggled with meth addiction and drug abuse for about 15 years before his family intervened and helped him kick the habit.

"The destruction it has is enormous," the mayor said.

He believes "gateway drugs" led his brother to meth. After Kelly, who was a Junior Olympic diver, broke his legs and arm in high school, he got hooked on painkillers and soon began experimenting with meth, Hallman said.

He said that Kelly's wife, Catherine, then picked up the drug that led to her addiction. The two struggled with meth for at least five years before family and friends intervened.

Kelly said he went to rehab but it didn't stick, and he was soon using again until he went to rehab a second and third time.

Ultimately, Catherine, who had three children, decided she had enough and wanted herself and Kelly to be drug-free.

Kelly said the two have been clean for nearly nine years.

With an up-close and personal look at the effects of one of the most addictive, easy-to-manufacture drugs, the mayor is pushing for statewide restrictions on the sale of pseudoephedrine.

The Tempe City Council likely will vote Feb. 16 on proposed restrictions.