SAN DIEGO -- A new study showed 55 percent of homicides and suicide cases in San Diego involved methamphetamine, 10News reported.

Four years ago, Claudia Sinkule's daughter, Nicole, was killed by her boyfriend who was addicted to meth.

"Her boyfriend came into her apartment and killed her in her sleep. He beat her with a hammer 13 times and that was the end of her life," said Sinkule.

Sinkule has three red figurines that represent three murdered women. One is for Tamara Keck, who was killed by a hit man hired by her fiancée. The second is for Charise Jones, who was stabbed to death in front of her three young children in a domestic violence incident. They are deaths Sinkule said may have been prevented through education and outreach.

"If you think that there is a problem, sit down with your child and talk to them about a safety plan. You're not gonna change their mind but you can give them the knowledge," said Sinkule.

The study by the San Diego Association of Governments also revealed when meth is involved, victims are more likely to require medical treatment and injuries are more severe.

"Drug abuse is treatable, and people in this county are in recovery each and everyday," said a city official.

It was too late to save Sinkule's daughter, but she hopes keeping her daughter's story alive will help save others.