DRUG PROBLEM DOESN'T SKIP MARSHFIELD

Police officers wait outside a house on one of the city's busiest streets
with search warrant in hand on a midsummer day. Once inside, they find
money, bags of marijuana, and a scale in the living room. In one person's
pocket, they discover plastic bags full of marijuana, smoking
paraphernalia, marijuana seeds, and photographs of people using drugs.

It sounds like an episode of "COPS" or "NYPD Blue," or even "Third Watch,"
but it's not. This is Marshfield. And this definitely is not an isolated
incident.

Every day the Marshfield Police Department and Wood County Sheriff's
Department combat the growing drug problem in Marshfield and the
surrounding area.

During the past nine-week period, more than 30 cases of illegal drug use
were brought before Wood County Circuit Court Judge James Mason and
Assistant District Attorney Yolanda J. Tienstra for prosecution. While most
defendants were first-time offenders, many have previously been in court on
drug charges.

In her 21 years with the Marshfield Police Department, Detective Jackie
Albers has tried to control the city's drug trade, which has been active
for several years.

"It's not unusual at all to bust someone more than once for drugs," Albers
said. "We're arresting second- and third-generation drug users already.
There are people that we were busting for drugs then, and now we're busting
their children. And we'll probably be busting their grandchildren at some
point."

The drug trade in Marshfield isn't limited to bars, street corners and dark
alleys, according to Albers.

"People need to see that when we have a rash of burglaries, the reason for
the burglaries is that person needs money to buy dope," she said.

Marijuana has always been popular, but other drugs are making a huge impact
in Marshfield Albers said that in most cases, alternatives such as huffing
and prescription drugs are easier to get, and the abuse is easier to conceal.

"Those are the things that are so prevalent because they are right there
for (drug users)," Albers said, noting that drug activity and huffing
increases when school is in session. "The guy sitting right next to him in
class is on three different kinds of medications, which he doesn't take, so
he sells the drugs to other kids. So those are the things that we are seeing."

While marijuana is still the drug of choice, "the prescription drug
(problem) is just terrible," she said. "What we do also see is parents
selling their kids' prescriptions." Parents of hyperactive children
sometimes sell their kids' Ritalin. In people who don't need the drug, it
produces a high, instead of the calming effect for which it's prescribed.

"Women still look at it as a great weight loss thing," Albers said.
"Basically, it's like speed. I think it's a big problem."

And, "yes, we have a cocaine problem," Albers said. "The biggest thing that
is scary is methaphetamine. It's just absolutely incredible in the amount
of damage that it does to a body."

There are major drug groups in Marshfield, but a couple of years ago the
department was buying large amounts of cocaine undercover from dealers in
Curtiss.

"That was just horrible and still is," she said.

Albers said most drug users are selfish and don't realize that their
behavior and illegal activity have dramatic effects on other people, close
family and even pets.

"The victims of drug abuse are children, first and foremost," Albers said.
"Because people will be getting high and they're not taking their kid out
to play basketball or on a family vacation. They are out there buying dope
with the money; they aren't buying the kids clothes."

Drug users also frequently abuse animals, she said.

"We are also seeing this huge influx of pit bulls," she said. "We've just
been so very lucky that every time that we have been on a search warrant
where there have been pit bulls, we've scared them more than they have
scared us." Not all pit bull owners are drug dealers, and not all drug
dealers own pit bulls, she added.

There is reason for some hope, too.

Former users and dealers have turned their lives around after arrests by
the Marshfield Police Department. People sometimes walk up to Albers on the
street or in a business to say how thankful they were to be given the
opportunity to stop using and dealing.

"It's just an incredible change," Albers said. "But there is a drug problem
in Marshfield. It's not something that can be denied or ignored."

- -breakout box-

Many people might be unaware that they're living near a meth lab. Here are
some things to look for:

- -- Unusual, strong odors (such as cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or
other chemicals).

- -- Residences with blacked out windows.

- -- Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade
exclusively in cash.)

- -- Lots of traffic - people coming and going at unusual times. There may be
little traffic during the day, but at night the activity dramatically
increases.

- -- Excessive trash, including large amounts of items such as antifreeze
containers, lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain
cleaner, and duct tape.

- -- Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the home.

- -Courtesy of the Greenwood, Ark. Police Department