LOCAL METH USE PLUNGES

Efforts to fight the drug have proven successful, but now officials fear
that prescription drugs have gained favor.

CHEYENNE -- Methamphetamine-related arrests in Laramie County have
decreased every year since 2006, and the most dramatic change came last
year, when such bookings dropped 52 percent.

Some have attributed it to increased law enforcement efforts, along with
education and prevention through coalitions and local and state
government.

Authorities warn, though, that the drug of choice could be shifting in the
state to prescription drugs.

"I think the numbers are decreasing, but it's kind of a double-edged
sword," said Kurt Zunker, coordinator of the county's drug and DUI courts.
"As we're seeing meth offenses go down, we're seeing prescription drug use
go up."

Cheyenne Police Chief Bob Fecht said he believes the Cheyenne-Laramie
County Meth Initiative is effective, but that the work cannot stop.

"You cannot arrest your way out of the problem," Fecht said.

Fecht cited a statewide study showing alcohol was involved in 70 percent
of arrests in Wyoming and found that methamphetamine was less than 2
percent.

"If you look at the number of meth-related problems in that, it was a
pretty low number," he said. "We hope that is truly indicative of where we
are in the state."

Lisa Scholz, coordinator of the Meth Initiative, said it's a combination
of public awareness and education, such as the Wyoming Meth Project
commercials targeting youth.

"There's also the law enforcement side of things, and laws have been
passed," Scholz said.

In recent years, laws have limited the purchase of Sudafed, a drug used in
methamphetamine manufacturing.

"Clandestine labs have pretty much dried up because of Sudafed," Scholz said.

And the number of people in treatment for methamphetamine hasn't
necessarily dropped, but has remained stable -- a good sign, Zunker said.

Police arrests for meth-related offenses have decreased every year since
2005, when there were 117 such arrests, to 41 arrests last year.

Laramie County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested a four-year high of
183 people for methamphetamine-related offenses in 2006.

Last year, deputies arrested 51 people for such offenses, marking a 72
percent decrease in two years.

The Meth Initiative tracked arrests for possession, sale or delivery,
clandestine labs and drug endangered children.

Even still, the education and prevention work needs to continue, Scholz said.

"It's excellent to see the numbers drop, but you've got to keep up the
work," she said.