U.S., ARKANSAS OFFICIALS PLAN 2-DAY CONFERENCE ON DRUG LABS

Methamphetamines Top Agenda For Law Enforcement

LITTLE ROCK - State and federal officials are to gather for two days at the
end of the month to discuss new ways to combat Arkansas' methamphetamine
problem.

The state leads the nation in the number of meth labs seized per-capita,
officials said Friday. However, they said, most meth used in the state
comes from outside sources.

The May 30-31 forum in North Little Rock will bring together hundreds of
officials from federal and state agencies and civic groups to try to
address problems in stopping meth use.

"Our goal is to try to deter people from ruining their lives," said U.S.
Attorney Bud Cummins.

The summit will be the first of four in the nation, said Sen. Tim
Hutchinson, R-Ark., with the other scheduled for Lexington, Ky.; Oklahoma
City and Hilo, Hawaii.

Mr. Hutchinson said that meth use continues to spread and that residual
crime and other costs to society are growing with the increased use. People
hooked on the highly addictive stimulant are more prone to contract the
virus that causes AIDS and hepatitis.

Col. Don Melton, who directs the Arkansas State Police, said the drug is
being used by younger people.

Mr. Hutchinson said the human cost of methamphetamine is devastating to
users and the people close to them.

"You can't put a price tag on that," he said.

More concrete are the costs to law enforcement to fight the drug, to
employers stuck with employees whose productivity drops because of
addiction and the price states and counties pay to clean up the hazardous
materials left when meth labs are busted.

Arkansas enacted a law restricting how much pseudoephedrine - a
decongestant that can be used to make methamphetamine - can be sold over
the counter to 9 grams. Officials said the law has resulted in decreased
sale of the chemical. But people running illegal labs can go across the
state line and buy in states without a similar restriction.

DEA chief Asa Hutchinson, brother to the senator, is to speak at the
conference.

Arkansas officials have been seeking federal designation as a high-traffic
meth state, which would make more funds available to catch producers and
sellers. Susan Tischler of the DEA office in New Orleans said Friday that
that money for that program has been moved to the nation's anti-terror
effort, and the state won't get the designation in the near future.