METH LABS DISAPPEAR AFTER LAW

Homemade methamphetamine labs seemed to disappear in Rutherford
County after a state law that went into effect in July made it
tougher to buy a key ingredient, a sheriff's narcotics supervisor said.

But the "club drug" Ecstasy increased in popularity especially among
people in their 20s, said Sgt. Egon Grissom while analyzing trends
the unit found during the past year.

State law restricted the purchase of ephedrine, which is required to
make methamphetamine in homemade labs.

"We haven't had a meth lab in quite awhile," Grissom said. "Since
July, we haven't had a single meth lab. The new law actually had a big impact."

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug similar to cocaine, but
the high lasts longer. It's made using common household ingredients.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration reports Tennessee
accounts for 75 percent of the methamphetamine lab seizures in the Southeast.

Grissom said the narcotics detectives seized more cocaine, crack
cocaine and Ecstasy in 2005 but less marijuana after the unit was reorganized.

Rutherford County residents didn't produce that much methamphetamine
because the county is more urban and the illegal drug is easier to
hide in rural counties.

In checking with narcotics officers in rural Cannon and Warren
counties, Grissom said those counties experienced a definite decrease
in meth labs since July.

"The availability is still there, but it's harder to get," Grissom said.

Narcotics officers in Rutherford County noticed increased
availability of Ecstasy, a club drug, with 1,476 pills confiscated in
2005, an increase of 1,250 from 2004.

DEA describes Ecstasy as a stimulant with hallucinogenic properties,
which can last between four and six hours.

"It is usually taken orally in pill form," DEA reported. "The
psychological effects of Ecstasy include confusion, depression,
anxiety, sleeplessness, drug craving and paranoia."

Grissom said the price dropped from $20 to $25 per pill to about $7
to $10. It is frequently used by people in their 20s.

Marijuana continues to be the most prevalent drug of choice because
it's easy to obtain, the sergeant said.

Cocaine and crack cocaine seizures remained constant.

Grissom and the five narcotics detectives are working on reaching the
cocaine and crack cocaine dealers to reduce the drugs.

"We're concentrating more on the bigger dealers, which is why we
confiscated more money," Grissom said. "Obviously, dealers have more
money than users."

Sheriff Truman Jones said undercover investigations of narcotics is
one of the toughest jobs in law enforcement.

"If it wasn't for their efforts, the illegal trafficking of drugs in
the community would get out of hand," Jones said.

Both the narcotics and Interstate Crime Enforcement units working
together in drug enforcement and information from residents made the
unit more successful in 2005, the sheriff said.

Citizens call in tips at 895-3609. Callers may remain anonymous.
Citizens complain about neighbors who have visitors for short times
both day and night.

Detectives who check the information often find drug activity.

Grissom said stopping the drug dealers has another affect on citizens.

Drug addicts and users often break into homes and vehicles to support
their habits.

"By taking down drug users, it has a direct result on the impact of
crime in the county," Grissom said. "Our goal is to take the drugs
off the street and as many drug dealers and drug users as possible."