ILLEGAL DRUG USE FOCUSES ON CRACK COCAINE

Tullahoma and other surrounding communities may be gaining ground in
a methamphetamine battle due to legislation regulating
over-the-counter drug product sales, but the move has shifted the
illegal consumption focus to imported narcotics and a past trend --
crack cocaine.

Members of the 14th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task
Force made a presentation at the Tullahoma Drug Free Task Force's
February meeting, airing that point.

Billy Cook, 14th Judicial District Task Force director, said laws
passed more recently statewide after Tullahoma had its own
restrictions on over-the-counter drug sales have made a tremendous
difference in curbing methamphetamine abuse.

He said the figures are stronger statewide than in the local area,
but the difference after the law became effective has been tremendous.

"Throughout the state, there has been a 50 percent reduction and in
some instances two-thirds," Cook said, referring to the meth abuse
difference. "That's good news, but with a positive reaction, there's
an equal negative reaction."

He said a trend is starting to surface involving "ice,"
methamphetamine in its purest form, which is being imported from
Mexico where no restrictions are placed on pseudoephedrine, a key
ingredient in over-the-counter medicine that is used to produce meth.

Cook said "ice" abuse could turn into a more widespread problem.

"It's very addictive," he said.

Along with increasing "ice" abuse, a trend toward crack cocaine has
surfaced, Cook said.

"I'm going to predict that in addition to declining meth abuse, we're
going to see an increase in crack cocaine," he said, adding that it
could become a big problem in Tullahoma.

He said the Judicial Task Force is striving to do what it can to curb
the problem and is optimistic headway will be gained.

"There's nothing we can do to eliminate it," Cook said, referring to
illegal drug abuse. "We can't stamp it out, but we're going to try to
do the best we can."

Tullahoma took a stand toward controlling meth abuse on Aug. 23,
2004, when the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved an ordinance that
regulated the display, sale and delivery of cold medicines ephedrine,
pseudoephrine and phenylopropanolamine -- prime ingredients in meth production.

Tennessee later passed similar legislation, making the issue a statewide move.

Tullahoma has been limiting sales to no more than 100 tablets per
customer of any products containing any of the three cold medicines.

Purchasers have also been required to register:

- -- The specific quantity they bought.

- -- Their names through proper signature.

- -- Driver's license numbers or other official identification information.

- -- Purchase dates.

Clerks who have also sold the medicine have been required to sign or
initial the purchase documents.

Cook said the effort has made a difference, and by requiring
purchasers to sign for the products, those who buy at several
pharmacies to get enough of the medicine to produce meth leave an
evidence trail for authorities to follow.