LAWMEN FEAR COUNTY'S RISE IN METH USE

Calaveras County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Dave Seawell distinctly
remembers an incident with a person using methamphetamine about four
years ago. The man broke into Sender's Market in Mountain Ranch and
began laying lumber and ladders across the road.

"People under the influence can become very paranoid," Seawell said.

Seawell struggled to detain the man, who he said was much smaller in
size, for about five minutes. The perpetrator would not stop
resisting and appeared to show no signs of pain.

Incidents like these indicate a rising use of methamphetamine in
Calaveras County in recent years. An arrest made Oct. 20 of a Sheep
Ranch resident charged with possibly selling the drug, has residents
and law enforcement concerned.

"There was nothing that I was trained in that I could've used to
control him," Seawell said. "It was a scary deal. It woke me up to
what the drug was capable of."

According to Seawell, there were about 60 arrests for methamphetamine
possession for 2005. There have been about 55 so far this year, which
he said is slightly up than in past years.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse Web site,
methamphetamine, often called "meth" or "speed," is a highly
addictive chemical substance that affects mood and body movement. It
stated that meth has "become, without question, the most significant
drug threat in Northern California," due to its cheap cost and highly
addictive properties. Federal studies show the drug is spreading
east, especially in rural counties like Calaveras.

"There's nothing for these kids to do and with nothing to do, there's
always one bad apple who is using drugs," said San Andreas resident
Chelsea Jensen, who has two children.

Seawell, who was previously with the Calaveras Investigations and
Narcotics Unit for five years, said meth use has increased in the
past few years. He has seen people in their early teens to their late
60s who were arrested with possession. Meth can come in powder or
rock form and can be taken orally, injected or smoked with a glass pipe.

"It has been one of the drugs of choice in this county since I've
been working here," he said.

Seawell said he's not sure why there is an increase of usage.
However, a drug that was previously associated with outlaw motorcycle
gangs has been picked up by Mexican drug cartels, who are
transporting it into the state from across the border.

According to Seawell, there has been a decrease in seizures of meth
laboratories. He said it could be that manufacturers are finding it
easier to smuggle the substance into California rather than making
it. Deputies usually seize 10 to 15 smaller "Beavis and Butthead"
labs each year, but there have been none so far this year.

"They learn from us. They learn how cases are investigated," he said.
"They are highly adaptable."

One strategy to catch manufacturers used by the Calaveras Narcotics
Unit, is to set up stakeouts at local drug stores and convenience
shops to bust individuals who purchase large amounts of
pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed, which is a key ingredient of meth.

California has restrictions in place to check for identification and
limit cold medicine purchases. The county recently applied for a
state Cal-Met grant that would provide $295,000 to tackle
methamphetamine production and use within the county.

Sgt. Tim Sturm, head of the county Narcotics Unit, said he deals with
substance abusers, or people who are victims of abusers, on a daily
basis. He also said cocaine and heroin use are potentially on the
rise in the county as well.

Sgt. Rick DiBasilio, who works with county schools, said alcohol,
cigarettes and marijuana are the three pressing issues among
teenagers in the county. He encountered two cases of meth possession
last year, where one was given to the Calaveras Probation Office. The
Calaveras Substance Abuse Program offers treatment methods for users
and those under county probation.

While the increase of methamphetamine use in the past few years is
apparent, a solution isn't as clear.

Seawell said it would require a combination of enforcement and
treatment for those who are using in order to curb the trend.
Resident and foster parent Jensen said it's up to parents as well.

"It's important that parents become parents," she said. "My theory is
that if you keep them busy, you keep them out of trouble."

The effects of methamphetamine are harmful not only to the user's
nervous system and health, it also affects relationships with family
members and friends. And Seawell has seen this first-hand.

"Most people are generally decent, but when they get into this drug,
it turns decent people into monsters."