WE'RE NOT NO 1 AND WE LIKE IT: METH LAB NUMBERS DOWN

After three years of sitting atop the state in the number of meth lab
busts, McDowell has passed the title on to another county.

McDowell saw five labs dismantled in 2007. That's a huge decrease from
25 in 2006, 61 in 2005 and 43 in 2004.

For the past three years, meth makers have engulfed narcotics
officers' time. Some residents thought the title was a bad thing. But
it didn't mean that McDowell had more labs than other counties in the
state. It meant that authorities weren't shying away from busting
those who manufactured the dangerous and hazardous drug.

Lt. Shanon Smith, who heads McDowell County's Drug Enforcement unit,
said this year's steep decrease is due to a combination of hard work
by officers and participation from the community.

He added that new legislation has also had an effect. In January 2005,
a new law required anyone buying cold tablets containing
pseudoephedrine and ephedrine to show a photo ID at the store counter
and sign a log. Pseudoephedrine is the key ingredient used to make
meth. "One of the main reasons the figures have decreased is the
number of meth makers we have in federal prison serving long
sentences," Smith stated. "We got the worst of the worst."

He estimated that about 70 of the drug manufacturers are now serving
time behind bars.

But just because the numbers are down doesn't mean the meth problem
has been completely wiped out.

"We're realistic. We're always going to have drugs and drug dealers,"
said the lieutenant. "We still have labs, but we don't have the
numbers we had from 2004 to 2006. We're still going after them, and we
would still like to see assistance from stores."

Smith added that local businesses were of great help when authorities
were being "slammed" with labs. They notified officers of suspicious
customers and buyers who purchased meth-making ingredients in bulk.
"We hope that relationship continues," he said.

North Carolina's meth lab numbers dropped in 2007, as well. The state
saw 157 busts last year, down from 197 in 2006 and 328 in 2005.
McDowell ranked ninth in North Carolina in 2007. Anson County had the
largest number of busts with 28. Harnett was in second with 14 and
Davidson and Johnston were tied at third with 11.

Of the surrounding counties, Rutherford also had five, Burke and Avery
two, Buncombe nine and Yancey and Mitchell none.