tweaking the truth

Raised in north San Diego County, I grew up in what I thought, and was constantly told, was the meth capitol of the world. The city I grew up in, Escondido, was the epicenter of the adrenalized plague. Residents of Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Ramona, Lakside, El Cajon, and Fallbrook all resented Escondidos claim to the title, knowing full well that each of those cities was the true meth capitol of the world.

With so much crank flying about near the border, I thought it best to high tail it out of Dodge before a tweaker took my stereo and vaccuumed my apartment. To the midwest I went, with all deliberate speed. When I moved to Omaha, I was informed that Nebraska and Omaha in particular were the new the meth capitol of the world. At first I blamed myself, thinking perhaps the epidemic had followed me, but then I realized: I'm not that important.

And then I began to notice that, no matter where I go, people are eager to let you in on the dirty secret of the town: this place is the meth capitol of the world/US/State/etc. What an odd civic distinction of which to be so proud. And pray, tell, in this capitol, seat of meth governance, what sorts of regulation, lobbying and jurisprudence are practiced?

Everyone's overrun by tweaks -- lock up your cleaning supplies.

Query: "meth capitol of" 05/25/2005

Oregon
     

Anywhere
      Thread of a chat that uses the distinction as an insult.

909 area code
      Or really any high desert town.

Jefferson County, MO
      I'm noticing that most of these citations are really just spout offs. Interestingly, the response on the chat board was from a Spokane resident, confused at the assetion because he thought his town was meth central.

Pierce County, Washington
      Always modest, Washingtonians demured and acknowledged that they were only nearly the meth capitol of the United States.

San Diego, spin control
     FINALLY! San Diego is now claiming to NO LONGER be the meth capitol of the US, but remember, we used to be #1!

Bakersfield, Cali capitol of meth
      Good job central valley.

San Diego Renounces
     County Supervisor makes clear that San Diego no longer lays claim to the title of meth capitol.

Ween fans get high
      . . . and can't agree which of them holds claim to meth capitol of the US.