DRUGS' NEW LOOK TARGETS FIRST-TIME USERS

Methamphetamine manufacturers are transforming meth into
fruit-flavored candy to sell a new version of the drug.

However, meth production is still taking a sharp decline and is not
the epidemic it once was.

John Stanbery, a Stillwater police detective, said the department
has not had to deal with this appearance yet.

"We've heard about meth being created like this, but we just don't
know much about it because we haven't come across it lately," he
said. "We do know that dealers create it during the manufacturing
process to alter the appearance, though."

Wesley Yoder, a Stillwater resident, said he believes this problem
should be made more well-known because Halloween was last week.

"Parents definitely need to make sure what kind of candy their kids
are receiving," he said.

Dale Higgins, public information officer for the Stillwater Police
Department, said that in 1999 the department busted 70 meth labs in
Payne and Logan counties alone.

"In 2000, we ended up shutting down 80 meth labs for both counties,"
Higgins said. "It was a dark time for Oklahoma when we were locating
nearly 300 meth labs a year in the state."

Stanbery said it has been about a year since he has seen one in Stillwater.

Douglas Wilsey, a Stillwater emergency doctor, said Oklahoma used to
be the leader in the nation for this problem.

Higgins said since the pseudoephedrine law was passed in 2005, the
department hasA been busting only about five to six labs a year now.

"What would happen is the drug companies would drop off a month's
supply of pseudoephedrine products to retail stores and before the
first week was over the shelves would be completely empty," he said.

Higgins said drug dealers would simply load up as much of the
medicine as possible and then convert it to meth.

"Most people don't know that there is only one molecule, which is
oxygen, that separates pseudoephedrine into becoming meth," he
said.A "All a dealer had to do was remove the molecule in their
lab, and they had a deadly product to sell."

Stanbery said that since the law has been enacted it has drastically
halted the manufacturing of the substance and made police officers'
lives a lot easier.

"People can only buy pseudoephedrine behind the counter now and two
boxes at the most for one purchase," he said.

Higgins said that because customers are required to show their
driver's license to pay for pseudoephedrine, police can keep track
of buying records to see whether there are any abnormal purchases.

"We're usually able to find potential meth manufacturers through
this system," he said.

Stanbery said meth is highly addictive and has many disturbing side effects.

"Meth can cause weight loss, anxiety, constant itching and even
severe brain damage," Stanbery said. "The effects differ from person
to person."

Wilsey said meth is a strong stimulant and possesses adrenalinelike effects.

Stanbery said meth users will usually stay awake for days while on it.

"The longest I've ever seen anyone stay awake on meth is 13 days," he said.

Stanbery added that he remembers talking to this particular user.

"While questioning the man, I could tell the lights were on but
nobody was home," he said.

Stanbery said trying meth is never a good idea and can be compared
to injecting poison into one's body.

"Don't do meth at all," he said.

Yoder said it would be a shame to see kids get duped into using this
drug because it looks like candy.

"School boards should set up an education program to help students
better understand the consequences of this drug," he said."This is a
bigger trick than a treat."