Viewers sound off on "Crystal Darkness"
The following are responses received by KATU News via e-mail regarding people's reactions to the anti-meth documentary "Crystal Darkness," which aired Tuesday night. The comments have not been edited for grammar, spelling or punctuation.
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I felt the program was very informative. I was glad to see more than just the scary pictures that everyone always seems to want. I hope that this does have an impact on the young and old alike. Meth knows no social standing. It treats all on the same level, try it and take a good chance on ending your life. Sick, near death, the loss of your family and true friends. I hope this truly has a positive affect on the public and we can start seeing a decrease of use, finally.
- April
I turned it off half way thru. I have an 8 year old boy and I thought that some of the things was inappropriate. I don't want to explain to him what gang rape. I also think that since the local schools were pushing this program, they should of had younger people telling their stories. Kids don't relate to losing jobs and other adult things. Either have it targeted for adults/teen or to children. From what I saw, it could of been better.
- Tanya
I am a former meth user, my husband is a former meth user and we are raising his teenage daughter who's biological mother is a "former" meth user (she says). After watching the program I thought it needed to be more graphic. This is a horrible problem in our community and anyone who has not been touched by the devastation of the addiction can't really seem to understand why people can't stop. My teenage daughter and I have very indepth conversations, her life has been touched by it horribly. She has a mother that she doesn't speak to and it breaks her heart everyday. She has seen so much in her 15 years and has vowed to never do drugs or to associate with people who do them. This unfortunately is not the case when kids have no example of where they can end up and those are the kids that need to see the graphic nature of the drug.
I am not sure really how I was able to kick the habit but I know that I struggle with it everyday. I have had to teach my brain to think differently and I can't guarantee that I will never use again. The addiction is so strong and that scares me. I have to remind myself everyday that that life is not worth it and I want more for myself and my kids. I have often told my daughter that all it took me was once to become addicted. That first high that you can never quite achieve again but you do more and more to try. I get nervous just thinking about it. This is an addiction that never goes away, you just have to learn how to cope with it and stay away from it.
I had a very difficult time the first few years after I quit because my husband still used. I battled him and I battled my desire to use again and it almost destroyed our family. I couldn't walk away from his daughter though and leave her in that mess. Her mom had already walked out on her and I wasn't going to do it to. I talk to her about it so that I can make sure that she wants more and desires more from life. I tell her stories of scary things that happened while I was using. I get a lot of flack from people for being so open and honest about it, they tell me that I shouldn't share things like that with my kids. Why not? Kids need to see their parents as humans and need us to tell them the good as well as the bad in life. We need to show these young people in more graphic detail where their lives could end up and what long term effects it has on the body, if they don't end up dead first. I feel it may keep even a few from making those choices. If we can even save just a few, it's a start.
Good luck to all who are working on sobriety.
God bless those children who have lived thru the Hell that is Meth Addiction, strive for a brighter future with health and happiness.
~Kim
I watched it with my 10 year old and 7 year old daughters. We had no idea about meth and how it effected in many ways, so it was very good learning program for us. I would like to help parent (s) and their children who are suffering from this "disease". I heard a baby was drinking out of old bottle because mom can't take care of him/her or even herself. As a mother, it breaks my heart….
- Y.S.
I am 45 years old and will have 8 years in recovery on 11-5-99. I started using drugs and alcohol at the age of 13. I used meth, pot, acid, alcohol and other drugs for over 24 years. I wasn’t impressed with the documentary. I feel it wasn’t graphic enough to get the reality of how bad meth is. Keeping kids off is the beginning but if they ever get hooked on it, it will only be what ever their bottom is to make them stop and that may be death. We need to show more reality ... not just telling about it. Alan talking about putting a gun in his mouth is the reality and kids need to hear that. Showing parents how not to enable their children is something that must be expressed. I was brought up in a good family but chose bad friends. Today my life is good but I’m truly blessed by God and choose to listen to him. Only a small percentage of us make it and I’m going to make sure I’m one of the ones.
- Susan
I was disappointed in the program. First, I thought is was geared to help the user call the hotline, not to show awareness for the problem with teens. Secondly, I was not prepared to have to explain gang rape, rape, suicide, andgirls selling their bodies to my 4th and 5th grader. My kids couldn't relate to the guy in jail-his grammar was incorrect.
I am in the healthcare profession and am aware of the meth problem. I was hoping there would be information about how to notice meth houses, meth users. I was hoping they would show an actual bust-to really open the eyes of kids and teenagers. The filth, the empty cupboards, the mess, the uncared babies and toddlers. The destruction this drug causes. Ruining kids lives, their parents, losing everything in your life for the "high". Like showing how normal kids who try it "once" get hooked, lose friends, do poor in school and sports, lose hope and self-esteem, hurt their parents and siblings, basically throw their promising life away for something that seemed so harmless at first glance. I did like the photos of the physical damage it can do-teeth and skin. I was not impressed with the guy telling how he drooled on the gun in his mouth. Yes, that is what can happen, but how can you expect a child to understand or relate to that? This was geared toward the addict and acknowledging how bad it can be and how you can call for help. I would like more emphasis on prevention rather than we need to get more facilities and funding to help the addicts.
If this was geared to address the problem (or potential problem) among the youth-the point was missed. It needed more testimony from kids and teens and their parents. Not comments from judges and police. I wished I had recorded it, screened it before, rather than let my kids watch it. However, it did open a discussion that I could build upon from my knowledge as a pharmacist and the information from conference presentations.
- Kelly
We were disappointed in this show. We sat down to watch the show as a family hoping it would be beneficial to our children. There was not enough graphic impact other than the one shot of decayed teeth, which got the attention of the kids. We felt that the story did not depict enough of the adverse affects meth causes. Where were the dirty houses, the children in foster care, and the ravaged faces? Shock value leaves a more vivid impression on people.
Listening to the former addicts was ok, but they are cleaned up and the women were attractive!
Thanks for trying though. Every bit helps.
- Lyn
My husband I and watched this, even though our children are grown, and have-not had the problem. I was fascinated by this, and the 1/2 hour went so quick. Thank you for taking the time to fill in the community regarding a problem that is growing so fast. My heart breaks for the babies and toddlers that are exposed to this never ending problem. It was also nice to see that there were some that were able to break the addiction. Thank you for your time & effort in showing this documentary.
- Cindy
My opinion on the show was that it was "ok", but it was really lacking in substance. Maybe they should have a weekly reality TV show (tongue in cheek) or ongoing documentary to keep the problem open and going in the right direction in finding help for the people that want it and to help people with problems realize that they really do have a problem.
There has always beeen addictions and there always will be. The real problem lies in the fact that drug use is criminalized and so anytime people discuss drug use it is a taboo topic and "illegal", so it is kept in the underground and nobody wants to discuss it in "normal society". It needs to be brought out into the open like alcoholism with many treatment options easily available and for the people to be treated like humans and not like criminals.
- Jason
I am a parent of an exdruguser and I would love people to know that there is not a magic solution or one that works for all addicts. I know in talking to my son that with us telling that we loved him, but we did not like what he was doing to himself and everyone around him,finally went home. We spent time trying to get him into treatment. If they do not want to go they will not take them and if you do not have lots of money you can not get them into a program. So you wait till they do something bad enough to end up in jail and then you beg them to try one of the programs they have set up for addicts. Finally, I am very happy to say the third rehab program worked. It was for 6 months and then they still did not deal with all of his triggers. He had to go to concelling after he was released from rehab. At least by then he could think for himself again and know that that was what he needed. He has been clean for over 4 years, is married now and with a wonderful outlook on life. Lots of times these drug things happen when the youth say," It will never happen to me." Well it happens before the youth is even aware of it. Learn what the signs are, educate your children and make them aware of the poison they would be taking. There was a time in those 10 years I was not sure that my son would be alive today.
Please, police, and all groups that are after those that sell and bring these drugs to the black market, please do not be affraid to get these people of the streets. I live in a small community out of Portland and there is no safe place to live. These dealers are everywhere.
My story has turned out to be a happy ending. My son has everything in his life to stay clean for. My heart goes out to those that have children that are lost in the myth world. Keep loving those children, just love them, do not give them money, give them food and clothing and keep helping them find a program for recovery. It may work.
- Von
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for airing this program! I wish it could have been longer, with more graphic pictures of actual meth users, the affects of meth, and especially stories of how people first start it.
I would also like to commend the 5th grade teacher who assigned this program as a homework assignment. The mother who was against this programming should get a reality check. Did she not listen to the ex-users, police officers, etc… who talked about the use of meth starting even at the grade school level?
I have worked in the Mental Health system and have seen the effects of meth. The downward spiral of health, the loss of family and friends, and the loss of life, either through suicide, overdose or even related health issues.
We need more programs like this, more often, to get the message out there that methamphetamine use is a very serious danger to our children, our family and our friends.
Thank you for your efforts to get the message out.
- Heather
I think that it was very tame. This drug is way more of a problem than they said it was. The people that they showed were not on the drug that long. They need to have real people that are on the drug right now. Like the show intervention that shows’ how bad the drug really is.
- Tony
I watched the program with my 11 year old. I don't understand how any parent would not want their child to see a video like this. Our children need to see the realities of drug use-not the sugar coated version we always present to them. I believe they should have been more graphic. Yes, this information is upsetting and uncomfortable to see but it will hopefully open eyes. It's time for parents to wake up and understand these are the realities our kids face.
- Christina
The show did not demonstrate the truly scary part of the drug. They should have gone on the streets and really showed how scary this drug can be. Go to the local trailer parks - I know, I lived in one for 10 years and my son will never touch the drug. He has seen too many people suffering from this drugs affects. The people that live there are soooooo scary. They should have showed the impact of living next to someone that sells meth. How many times an hour they have customers show up - really scary people, all day and all night- never ending. Then show how you can complain to the Police and the park management over and over and nothing gets done. Show how it is to have to sell your home for next to nothing because the park has been run down by all the meth people. I am not the only one that had to sell and move to escape the addicts. Show how they sit in their front yards 24 hours a day and pick thru the garbage they go out and pick up everyday. Show more of what they look like at the start and end of their meth use. If you think this is too scary for your kids - think again. Imagine how scary it will be when they don't get the message because it was sugar coated and get hooked on meth.
- Teresa
I believe this was a good documentary, but being in recovery for almost 18 years now... I wish you would have shown more "real arrests" due to this drug. Show the people that are so nieave what it is really like out there. This is not a game... this is real and it is affecting our whole nation. The crime in the United States has a lot to do with the Meth problem. I have seen what the drug does to people first hand by watching my EX-fiancee' . It totally changes their personality... worse than alchohol. And they have no remorse.... they actually have no feelings other than getting high.
Thank you again for opening some eyes of denial...but I still think if you don't show the "real" arrests and homes these innocent children live in when their parents are doing this terrible drug. There is too much denial in this country...
- Sharon
Yes, I was glued to the TV watching this program. While watching this I wondered what the life expectency is for a crystal meth user. Sad..sad..sad..for the parents, children and a heavy burden on the taxpayers of Oregon. Having worked in the healthcare field for many years I have witnessed the manipulation this drug of choice does to the user.The Emergency Room use is at a all time high. We need the awareness of this drug on our prime time stations more often. To open the eyes of the parents, friends and coworkers. Thank You KATU
- Jan
I recently retired from a job as Criminal Investigator & Hearings Rep for the State of Oregon. Most of the cases I was dealing with involved Meth. My job was to determine whether people who had committed crimes due to Meth use and had become clean and sober were safe to work in jobs dealing with and caring for vulnerable people.
It was hard to determine how safe these individuals could be because so many relapsed so frequently. The drug is so highly addictive and seems to be almost impossible to get away from. My husband still works as an Addictions Therapist for the county in Portland. He has a hard time with getting people into treatment programs where they can get the appropriate care for this type of addiction. There are wait lists and some treatment programs do not address this Meth addiction as well as others.
I thought your program was excellent! I noticed that some people thought it was too scarey for their families to watch. That is the whole idea, it is horribly scarey and we need to instill that in our children because we can not be with them every minute to help them make the right choices when someone puts the drug in their face. We need more programs like it to drive the point home.
- Lana
The documentary was very well done. I only hope its message reaches those for whom it was intended – addicts. We need more rehabilitative programs – not warehousing of addicts in jails/prisons without these programs. My heart goes out to those who are “kicking” their addictions.
- Jan
I was very disappointed ,The world needs to know how to locate the users ,what options people have when they are ready to quit, what parents should look for in their children.
Sure it's great people have quit, I graduated from stepping stones it 1992 and have been clean since.
When we help others we need to know where this started from and where the future will take us.
Meth addiction started in the 60's from doctors proscribing Benzedrine ,Dexedrine and it got out of hand just like vicodone ,oxycoton ,percaset and morphine sulfate will in the future.
Hope you can remember valium ,look at the children of the proscribed parents and the alcohol users of yesterday there children are the meth users of today.
Does this phrase ring a bell? I just use it to relax,to take the edge off of the day, I use it as a social drug well we learned it from the people who raised us and they from the people who raised them and our children from us .What we do today will make our children healthy
- Walt
I think that the Crystal problem is something we need to start fixing in our own communities. There should have been some advice on what to look for and how to go about reporting it.
- Garrett
Wow! That was so boring my daughter fell asleep after 10 minutes!! And she never falls asleep at 7:30! I thought it was awful. It looked like it was thrown together by my 16 year old son at the last minute. Listening to a cop or judge about how bad the drug problem is doesn’t impress me. Listening to a current inmate doesn’t impress me either….or course they are upset and crying. They are in jail and don’t want to be there. I’d be crying to get out too. Let me hear from parents/grandparents and how they survive or cope. What they would have done differently, etc. We know how bad the problem is. Now what can we do about it?
- Darcie
I totally agree with those that thought it should have been more graphic. I have 11 year old kids. They are under extreme peer pressure being in the first year of Middle School. I was hoping there would be more footage of "young" kids that got sucked into the abyss. I don't believe in scare tactics, but I am a firm believer in fact tactics. Throughout the program the commentators kept referring to the early ages that kids are faced with making this choice. However the people interviewed were recovering addicts in early adulthood.
We really need to target the grade school and middle school population. That's where our future addicts are born! We can't stop this train alone, but together we are a mighty force.
- MR
Thank you KATU for actually encouraging and posting responses to the Crystal Darkness documentary, no other station had the guts (integrity) to solicit viewer feedback. I also commend your coverage of the Interstate Blvd. controversy. Will you ever bring back your town hall shows? I really appreciate the critical thought and analysis your station provides and you are now my #1 news station.
Keep up the good work!
- Max
I found the program to be insightful and interesting. Although some may be disturbed about the content, it is a very real issue we face in today's world and we should learn all we can about it instead of put our heads in the sand and hope it goes away. As the parent of now grown kids who did have drug addictions in their younger days, I wish this had been around when they were younger - I would have happily watched it with them and discussed the topic at length. Just like the whole controversy surrounding birth control for young girls (the kids are out there having sex, whether parents want to admit it or not - and providing condoms will ultimately help prevent health issues and unplanned pregnancy), educating the public and offering help to those who feel like all hope is lost is the best we can do! Sure hope people get help after watching this - what a well put together program and all the stations that aired it should be commended.
- Kelly
Thank you for providing the air time for "Chrystal Darkness" on Tuesday night. There are so many bad things that our children can get into these days. We do keep reiterating the fact that drugs, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are bad for their bodies and minds. When we discuss it with our children, especially our teenager, we get "I already know this, Mom and Dad." We respond with," We're your parents, and it's our job to keep reminding you and discussing this with you. " We ALMOST didn't watch it, but did anyway. THANK YOU, KATU!
- Johnni
Too bad they didn’t list a couple of stats:
Only 20% of addicts actually ever get clean
Meth causes irreversable brain damage in a large percentage of users. As demonstrated by one young lady recounting her past experiences.
Further, I wish they would’ve educated the public about the sources of meth. And how to spot meth use and meth distribution activity.
- Don
My son's teacher assigned the viewing of Crystal Darkness as a 5th grade homework assignment. We sat down and watched it, and I was livid. This was NOT appropriate material for my 5th grader to be watching, much less my 4th grader. Prostitution, rape, gang rape, suicide, etc. are material I try to shield my children from. Yes, we discuss drugs and the bad aspect of it but this was NOT the way to go about it from a school's point of view. I have voiced my complaints to his teacher as well. I believe this should have been screened by the school BEFORE assigning it and if it was, where do they get off thinking its ok for the kids.
I turned off the sound at one point and we completely turned off the TV during the last 3 minutes when the gentleman was talking about putting a gun in his mouth.
It was an informative program, though very boring and drawn out. I lost interest within the first 10 min. and I know both my children did as well.
If Portland Public Schools think this is ok for kids, then they need to re-direct it at middle school and I think high school, NOT elementary school children. I am trying to keep my kids as kids, while informing them in an appropriate manner of the dangers that exist.
- Kat
IMHO Information is a good thing and I really don't beleive the questions you asked are really apprpriate altho not having seen the documentary yet I don't truly know. If it is a SCARE tactic then I don't think it wail be much help as scare tactics are not generally good at getting good information out to people. That being said if its a well done documentary and shows the truth (even if its ugly) I think it will help. I have been in recovery for over 20 years.so i have been there done most of that and have a few drawer fulls of tshirts. my personal opinion is that we spend far to much money on the back end of the problem and not the front end IE prevention. if you look at the prison population 85%+ of the people there are there from drugs and alcohol. ( it might not be direct but drugs and or alcohol are in the mix) stealing for the next fix/drink, drinking/drugs and driving, being stupid after consumption of drugs/alcohol, We truly need better education about abuse in the schools and it needs to start earlier than it currently does. we also need better solutions for counseling with the young children. Now were we as a society to deal with this on the front end or have better solutions on back end better treatment facilities. I do understand that there are people that will never get no matter what you do but we seem to drop allot of people that just might Ohhh 5 minutes before the miracle.
- Cravin
I think the meth problem is an epidemic and it's everywhere. Once people are hooked, they are incapable of getting off and will do whatever it takes to get more. I think it's such a strong addiction, once hooked they are helpless victims. It's frightening and I don't expect to see it resolved in my lifetime. I see people on the beach here in Lincoln City who look like death warmed over, bad teeth, glazed eyes and a desperate look about them. Scary. Bleak outlook I know, but I feel it's realistic.
- Maggie
The people that start using meth don't care that it will destroy their lives or the lives of the other people they are involved with. They are young and selfish and will believe that it is a scare tactic and that it can't happen to them. Unfortunately, the consequences don't come until after it is too late and they have left massive wreckage in their wake.
Meth addicts kids pay the highest price and they will have to continue to pay it for the rest of their lives. DHS needs to honestly look at addicts lives before giving their kids back to them. Make meth addicts actually do something constructive such as real community service, rather than send them to jail. It is far too easy to fill jails with people who don't want to do anything with their lives rather than holding them accountable for their actions. Until society stops telling addicts that it isn't the addicts fault for their poor choices, addicts will continue their behavior. Hold them accountable and perhaps things will improve. Maybe.
- Sandy
I don’t like the fact that all the local channels are running the show at the same time, forcing people to watch it
I am offended at the attempt to force me to watch the show.
If all channels want to run the show, place it at different time slots so that more people can choose when/if they want to watch it. And duh, you will get more viewers. There will be many people who won’t be able to watch the show at the time slot it was aired in. I may be a simple and ignorant person, but when something is obvious...
Luckily, I don’t watch much TV in the first place, and even luckier, I don’t watch much of your programming.
It sure would be refreshing to have a local channel that has good programming.
Unhappy camper in West Linn,
- Don
Well done..short and to the point..In law enforcement for 10 years, there's not much more this documentary could do more to drill the message into peoples heads..
- Matt
I wish there were some stats to educate the public about how much this is costing all of us. Not only the family and friends we love to meth but the financial side for the families and communities.
Concerned
- Rebecca
The meth movie was reported to be mostly fundamentalist Christian
propaganda with little useful science and so I decided not to waste
my time on it.
- Michael
This documentary was very well put together. I think that it is important that this become a series; perhaps twice a year or more to remind everyone this is still a huge problem. It will take a lot of time and effort before we can take control of this terrible addiction that affects so many on so all levels of society.
- Heather
Very good information. We watched it with our two teens and had discussed it with them afterwards..
Thank you
- Debbie
It was very moving. Presently my daughter is in jail but not from
drug use. However, it seems like the majority of women in jail in
Tillamook county are there because of meth. The problem is huge in
this county.
- Jaylen
Great program, thank you for showing it. I do hope you will show the great progress and miracles that are happening in Drug Treatment Courts throughout Oregon and the nation.
- Rhea
Poll topic was something everyone should see. It really opened my eyes to a subject I have heard about a lot, but only after seeing your show did I really realize how serious and deeply rooted this problem has become. Thank you for this informative program.
- Emma
I think it is a very scary topic that everyone should be aware of. I
have had a few loved ones effected by meth and it is good for people to
see what happens to keep help keep them away from doing drugs.
- Julie
I think it is about time that the news media aired this documentary, our lives and livelihood depend on people being aware of this terrible terrible addiction, it affects each and every one of us whether they will admit it or not.
- Merden
Thank you for running this documentary.
I wasn't expecting to watch this show, but found myself completely fixated to the television. The stories, as told by those who have lived this life, were eye-opening and powerful. I was aware that meth use can destroy lives, but I've never seen it depicted in such an informative and moving way. We can only hope it moved some of the folks caught up in this madness to make that call for help.
As always, seeing children caught in the middle of this is so very sad. I commend the efforts being made to address this horrible and growing problem and appreciate the volunteers that were there to take the calls.
- Kathie
I thought this program was really a great reality for people to see. I have a relative that has been clean of meth for a over a year now, and she decided she didn't want to live under a bridge, and do drugs anymore. She has gotten a relationship back with her children and family. If we ,her family didn't support her I don't think she would have gotten out of it. I had my children watch the show, and my 11 yr. old was in shock. So thank you to who ever put this together and showed it.
- Stacie
I am a Comcast customer with DVR. I did record it to watch in privacy then decide whether to share it with my children. I did not want my little people to see it until I made that decision – I was very surprised with all the coverage that none of the reporters made any reference as to what age it would be suitable for.
- Debra
Even though I have little hope meth can be stopped, I think it's important to make help available. I cheer those here in Oregon who are reaching out -- you may not be able to save them all, but each one brought out of that terrible addiction is worth saving. I thought the documentary was well done.
- Maggie
I thought it was a good documentary. It was short but to the point. We have had a meth user in our family, and luckily they survived and have been clean for 5 years, it was very telling of what they had been through. It was so hard to have to talk to the “drug” and not be able to reach the person. I can only pray that others can get rid of the demon before it’s too late. The effects of meth will always be there, physically and emotionally, but the person is back in our lives and is the loving person they were before.
- M
My husband and I watched the Crystal Darkness Program last night. Although it had some good content, I felt it didn’t go in depth enough to give the public vital information about meth. I felt it should have dealt further with the chemicals that make up the drug itself and what each drug alone could do to a person’s body and show pictures of the horrible things it does to people, not just people’s stories. I also was disappointed that it didn’t show the forms of meth that can be attractive to middle school children and younger. In order for the “meth” epidemic (crisis) to be put in check, a lot more has to be done to prevent the kids from taking it and in my opinion the schools should be given authority to teach a class about “the meth epidemic” and how they can avoid falling into that trap.
Also, why not put this kind of programming on more often! It is needed, and ½ hour is not nearly enough to get the message of this “crisis” out to the public. A lot of people sit and watch for hours on end the unhealthy kind of programming that is at their fingertips and ignore what is really important in their family’s life! Let’s get the “crap” off of the televisions and put the money where the money will really count!
- EDIE
I think it looked too much like an infomercial. I feel that one picture is worth a thousand words and to have my nine year old see meth faces over and over again along with meth mouth would have made more of an impression. Too much lecturing and not enough raw images and testimonials from users.
- Chyral
I think it was well meaning, but it was not in your face. I think the program was weak in message. It showed to many "experts" and talking heads. I think it bored the kids. Kids are more visual these days and need more pictures and video of the effects of meth.
- Clay
It was interesting and informative. What a wonderful opportunity to sit down and watch this with my daughter.
I would love to have my kids be able to see a follow-up to this that would include more before and after video of kids and adults alike in an effort to build an automatic association of a bag of meth to the devastation of one's body as well as their family. Perhaps a follow-up that would also include more teens explaining how easy it was to try it that first time, and the peer pressure that was used.
Overall it was a great idea - esp. having it on so many TV stations at the same time.
- JoAnne
It was a great program, but I do wish there would have been more graphic footage of actual arrests…something that would have made kids see and realize how bad it really could be. Something more visual.
But…still a great program. Thank you!
- Maria
My comment would be that it is a shame more people didn't watch it. I hope the poll isn't all that accurate and a greater majority of the public paid attention to this issue.
- Gay