SMALL METH LABS A BIG PROBLEM

Fire Deaths Show Drug's Growing Hazards

The relatively small amount of chemicals and equipment needed to
manufacture methamphetamine makes it easy to set up labs in confined urban
places - hotel bathrooms, storage lockers, car trunks. And the ease of
transporting these "box labs" have kept authorities scrambling to find the
elusive targets.

But the deaths of two women Wednesday in a fire officials believe was
started by a meth lab - the first such deaths in Denver and possibly
Colorado - may signal the beginning of a new phase in the drug's culture.

"This is exactly how the trend on the West Coast went," said Lt. Lori
Moriarty with the North Metro Drug Task Force, which busted 75 labs in
2001. "They started like we have, with the number of labs growing quickly.
Then, boom, people started dying in the labs.

"We're now at the next level with the trend of methamphetamine use."

In 1998, there were 31 meth labs identified, according to Colorado Bureau
of Investigation Deputy Director Pete Mang. In 1999, there were 150. And
there were 264 in 2000.

The CBI has not calculated statewide numbers for 2001, but many local
jurisdictions reported dramatic increases. Denver's numbers grew from 22
labs in 2000 to 38 in 2001. North Metro's numbers jumped from 45 to 75 in 2001.

And both agencies expect to see increases this year as more manufacturers
move labs out of larger rural areas into cities.

Methamphetamine sells for $100 to $125 a gram on the street.

"It's getting bigger every year obviously," Mang said. "It's not just a
drug problem anymore. It's more of a multifaceted problem now."

Along with the increase in labs comes a rise in hazards.

Toxic fumes released during methamphetamine production can be fatal. People
living next door, children playing in the area, or firefighters responding
to the scene can become sick from the chemical residue, Mang said.

Two of the three labs Denver police busted in the last week were found
following fires.

"The cooks, when they're making this stuff, have very little concern for
the safety of their surroundings," said Denver crime lab Sgt. Mark Olin, an
expert in meth labs. "All they're concerned about is making the finished
product."

Gov. Bill Owens specifically mentioned methamphetamine in his recent State
of the State address. Owens has proposed two bills, one that makes it a
felony to possess any of the precursor chemicals used in making the drug,
and another that makes it illegal to have any of the equipment used in meth
manufacturing.

Lakewood police have asked that pharmacies and supermarkets keep common
cold medicines locked up because the pills often are stolen to get the
ephedrine needed to make meth. And most metro area police and fire
departments have received training on how to spot meth labs.

"This is a community problem," Olin said. "It's not just a Denver problem
or an inner-city problem. This affects everybody."