METH STILL TOP DRUG

MONMOUTH - Methamphetamine continues to be public enemy number one
for law enforcement agencies in the area and across the U.S. Even
though the overall number of meth labs seized has decreased in many
areas, methamphetamine, also known on the street as crystal meth or
crank, is still abundant as well as cheap compared to some drugs.

Most law enforcement officials believe the methamphetamine superlabs
in the southwest are manufacturing more of the drug to make up for
the decreased local production. In the metro areas meth abuse
continues to fuel an increase in crimes like robbery and assault,
which is straining the workload of local police forces.

The crimes are not as much of a problem in the rural areas but
officials like Monmouth Police Chief Brad Ziegler and Warren County
Sheriff Martin Edwards deal with meth labs and crimes like anhydrous
ammonia thefts.

Both have been on the decline in the past year, but the meth is still
out there, and local officials fear the problem will continue to get
worse before it improves.

A survey of the National Association of Counties found nearly half of
county law enforcement officials consider methamphetamine their
primary drug problem, more than cocaine, marijuana and heroin combined.

A number of county sheriffs in the area have said anywhere from 25
percent to more than 50 percent of their prisoners are in jail on
meth-related charges.

The survey of 500 county law enforcement officials in 44 states
showed that about half reported a decrease in the number of meth lab
busts as a result of laws that restrict the sale of cold medicines
with precursor ingredients used in the manufacture of meth.

Illinois has similar laws. Local law enforcement officials believe
the laws make it more difficult for some people to make the drug. The
laws have also assisted police in a number of arrests.

The survey is also consistent with federal figures released last
month showing a 30 percent drop in the number of labs seized
nationwide. But county officials said supply of the drug remains high
from super labs in California and Mexico.

Last month, the White House drug-policy office set a goal to cut meth
use by 15 percent over the next three years and increase seizures of
meth labs by 25 percent.

A number of federal lawmakers have been asked to reject a Bush
administration proposal to eliminate the Justice Assistance Grant
program, which funds drug task forces around the country. That call
was echoed by local law enforcement officials at a news conference to
announce the survey.

"It makes absolutely no sense to fight a war on drugs, then reduce
the funding when you're in the midst of battle," said Oklahoma County
Sheriff John Whetsel. About 1,000 of the 2,800 inmates in the
Oklahoma County jail are incarcerated for meth-related crimes, he said.

In the rural areas a number of sheriff's departments have dropped out
of task forces in order to focus more on their immediate areas. In
some cases local task forces has been formed.

The survey, taken at the end of June, is based on a random sample of
sheriffs or police chiefs in 500 of the nation's 3,066 counties. The
association does not reveal the identity of the counties because it
would discourage them from responding freely, said Jacqueline Byers,
NACo's director of research.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report).