Most poor people aren't methamphetamine addicts, but meth users become poor thanks to the stranglehold of the drug.

"If you become a full-fledged addict, it consumes your life," said Salem Police Chief Walt Myers.

On Monday, Myers spoke with representatives of local food pantries, youth shelters, domestic violence programs and other organizations that help folks in need.

Those agencies are seeing more meth users and "tweakers" — people who are strung out, paranoid, twitchy and with sores from the highly addictive stimulant.

Dena Smith, coordinator of June's Kid Closet-Baby Bank in Philomath, said she comes across meth users almost daily. It's a frustrating situation for her because she wants to help out the addict's family.

"You try really hard to stay focused that your services are for the children," she said.

Meth use happens at all income and age levels, Myers said. He added that he's seen people start using the drug from age 8 to 77.

Salem is in the midst of investigating allegations that middle-school girls traded sex for methamphetamine. Children, even babies, can be victims of meth, Myers said.

Kids who live in houses where meth is cooked often test positive for the drug due to their exposure. And 70 percent of the 7,000 children in foster care in Oregon are there because of the impacts of methamphetamine, Myers said.

Myers also said Oregon and the United States need to do more to fight narcotics, especially methamphetamine, and that the majority of meth comes from across the border in Mexico and Canada.

About 40 people from organizations in Benton and Linn counties attended Myers' talk.

A representative of Benton County's Oregon Meth Watch program also was at the meeting, and offered to provide the aid organizations with Meth Watch kits.

Kyle Odegard covers Philomath and rural Benton County. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@

lee.net or 758-9523.