News (Media Awareness Project) - US OK: Editorial: The Growing Meth Problem |
| Title: | US OK: Editorial: The Growing Meth Problem |
| Published On: | 2001-02-25 |
| Source: | Shawnee News-Star (OK) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-26 23:14:26 |
THE GROWING METH PROBLEM
Methamphetamine labs are springing up across Oklahoma at an alarming rate
and law enforcement agencies are increasing their efforts to deal with this
growing drug problem. It's difficult, however, for them to make the kind of
progress they'd like because of the magnitude of the situation.
Members of the multi-jurisdictional drug task force, which covers
Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties, recently spoke to our editorial board.
Some of the statistics they presented seemed, at first, mind-boggling.
Unfortunately, the figures are staggering as to the growing drug trade in
Oklahoma.
According to statistics from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,
there were 35 meth labs reported to that agency in 1995. Five years later,
that number had grown to 946 -- an increased of 661.7 percent. Of those,
the OSBI investigated 259 and the remaining 687 were turned over to the
agency by law enforcement officials across the state.
The OSBI estimates that only about one-third of the meth labs are reported
to them, Kay Christiansen, district attorney for Pottawatomie and Lincoln
counties, tells us. That means, for every one reported, there are two
undiscovered.
The drug task force here, as in other parts of the state, is undermanned.
This is a statewide problem with the severity growing by leaps and bounds.
Meth labs are big business in Oklahoma. That's why its residents should be
alarmed by meth lab growth and they need to support law enforcement efforts
to curb it. Recently, the local task force has uncovered some of these labs
in unexpected places in area neighborhoods. That can be scary.
These figures should show the law-abiding residents of our state how
serious this drug trade is becoming. It's a major business enterprise for
those who are engaged in it and who, by their actions, endanger many lives
on a daily basis.
Citizens should attempt to assist law enforcement officials any way
possible in their efforts to control this criminal activity. After all, it
could be their neighbor who is endangering their lives.
Methamphetamine labs are springing up across Oklahoma at an alarming rate
and law enforcement agencies are increasing their efforts to deal with this
growing drug problem. It's difficult, however, for them to make the kind of
progress they'd like because of the magnitude of the situation.
Members of the multi-jurisdictional drug task force, which covers
Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties, recently spoke to our editorial board.
Some of the statistics they presented seemed, at first, mind-boggling.
Unfortunately, the figures are staggering as to the growing drug trade in
Oklahoma.
According to statistics from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,
there were 35 meth labs reported to that agency in 1995. Five years later,
that number had grown to 946 -- an increased of 661.7 percent. Of those,
the OSBI investigated 259 and the remaining 687 were turned over to the
agency by law enforcement officials across the state.
The OSBI estimates that only about one-third of the meth labs are reported
to them, Kay Christiansen, district attorney for Pottawatomie and Lincoln
counties, tells us. That means, for every one reported, there are two
undiscovered.
The drug task force here, as in other parts of the state, is undermanned.
This is a statewide problem with the severity growing by leaps and bounds.
Meth labs are big business in Oklahoma. That's why its residents should be
alarmed by meth lab growth and they need to support law enforcement efforts
to curb it. Recently, the local task force has uncovered some of these labs
in unexpected places in area neighborhoods. That can be scary.
These figures should show the law-abiding residents of our state how
serious this drug trade is becoming. It's a major business enterprise for
those who are engaged in it and who, by their actions, endanger many lives
on a daily basis.
Citizens should attempt to assist law enforcement officials any way
possible in their efforts to control this criminal activity. After all, it
could be their neighbor who is endangering their lives.
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