EVERYONE NEEDED AS WE FIGHT METH

In case you haven't noticed, Warren County as well as much of this region
is in the middle of a methamphetamine epidemic. There's hardly a crime
nowadays that isn't in some way tied with the manufacture, use or sale of
meth. From thefts to forgeries, from robberies to murders, you need look no
further than meth to find your villain. The drug turns everyday people into
junkies and, in some cases, inhuman monsters. As far as I can tell, there
are very few people who get free of the drug's hold, aside from long-term
incarceration in prison. Its addictive nature and widespread use makes it
public enemy number one in Warren County.

Even if you don't know anyone wrestling with the demon, the chances are it
will affect you in some way. It could be you'll be a victim of crime
related to some junkie's need for money to fund his or her habit. Or, more
indirectly, you as a taxpayer are paying the bill every day to pay for
their stays in jail.

Did you ever wonder why there's more than 200 people crammed into our local
jail? The answer is one word - meth. If we were to poll those at the jail,
and they answered honestly, well over half would tell you meth is behind
their legal problems. It's costing us every day, whether we realize it or not.

Of course, the question always arises about what the public can do to help
stem this tide of illegal drugs. After all, meth is the perfect junky drug.
It's cheap and easy to make and the cooker can fund his own habit and
perhaps turn a little profit in the deal if it doesn't all go in his blood
stream.

I guess the primary thing the community can do is to make obtaining
components to the illegal labs more difficult. Meth is made with many
common items, most if not all of which, may be bought at local stores.

Because of this, lawmen have recently put out an advisement to local stores
to be careful about what they sell in bulk. Federal prosecutors have gone a
step further, actually arresting some store owners who have consistently
sold meth ingredients, such as pseudoephedrine to meth-makers. Federal
agents have also seized the stores of these merchants under the conspiracy law.

There's not hardly a store around where you can't find those pick-me-up
pills at the front counter. I don't personally use them, but there may be
some folks who feel the need for that extra burst of energy so I guess
there's actually a legitimate market for the drugs.

However, merchants need to beware of folks who are purchasing these pills
in mass quantity because their contents are commonly used to make meth. I
would hope, just as lawmen have asked, that merchants are reporting
suspicious bulk purchases of these pills.

On the more common side, mass purchases of matches should send up a red
flag to any merchant. The matchbook strikers are used to extract red
phosphorous, which is used in the production of meth. Let's face it folks,
hardly no one purchases over a couple of boxes of matches for legitimate
purposes.

If a person enters a store to buy a case of matches, my money says they're
making meth. Same thing with Coleman fuel and brake cleaner. Hardly anyone
purchases these items in mass quantity for legitimate purposes. If a
merchant is approached by a customer who wants to purchase a large
quantity, the person should be reported because the chances are, if their
car is searched, several other meth-making items will also be inside.

No, reporting such strange purchases won't end the meth epidemic, but it
will at least make the task of making the drug a little tougher. I have
faith our merchants will place the interest of the community over the
interests of profit since we all call Warren County home.

(Duane Sherrill is a reporter for the Southern Standard. He can be reached
at 473-2191 or by e-mail at standard@blomand.net.)