NORTH CAROLINA SEES DROP

Meth labs in North Carolina are continuing to drop under a new law
that makes it more difficult for criminals to get the drug's main
ingredient, Attorney General Roy Cooper said.

SBI agents responded to 11 labs producing the synthetic drug
methamphetamine in May 2006. That's the fewest number of meth labs
discovered in the state in any one month since December 2003 and a 69
percent drop compared to the 35 labs discovered in May 2005.

"We fought hard for this law, and it's paying off," Cooper said.
"Cutting criminals' access to the key ingredient they need to make
meth is helping to drive these dangerous drug labs out of our
communities." Since the new law took effect on Jan. 15, the SBI has
seen a 35 percent overall drop in meth labs compared to the same time
period in 2005. In 2005, SBI agents busted 172 labs between Jan. 15
and May 31. In 2006, agents busted 112 labs between Jan. 15 and May
31.

As of Jan. 15, North Carolina law requires that all single and
multi-source tablets, caplets or pills containing pseudoephedrine and
ephedrine be sold behind a pharmacy counter. Purchasers must be at
least 18 years old, show a photo ID and sign a log to buy these products.

The law also limits purchases of these products to no more than two
packages per transaction and no more than three packages within 30
days without a prescription.