PORTALES RESIDENTS CAN HELP BATTLE METH EPIDEMIC

Methamphetamine is described by law enforcement as the biggest social
crisis in America today. Thursday at the Portales Chamber of
Commerce's quarterly luncheon, attendees learned more about the
problem and a few easy ways to deter it in the community.

Capt. Lonnie Berry of the Portales Police Department described the
social severity of the problem by asking the crowd to imagine a
person being killed for a pack of cigarettes. He says that meth
addicts can and have gotten just that far out of touch with reality.

Methamphetamine doesn't discriminate, but occurs in all parts of the
city -- north, south, everywhere, said Ninth Judicial District
Attorney Matt Chandler. "We've found it everywhere from crack houses
to a preacher's house in this area."

Chandler told the group that methamphetamine was first refined from
the ephedrine plant during World War II. Adolph Hitler wanted his
chemists to come up with a drug to help his soldiers on the
battlefield. Once his soldiers started using the drug they reacted
without fear and needed little sleep or food.

"They were described like fighting zombies," said Chandler. "They
were 10 feet tall and bulletproof. That's what law enforcement is
dealing with today."

Chandler went on to detail the irrational behavior and lack of
emotion displayed by several methamphetamine addicts convicted in New
Mexico of violent crimes. From one man who decapitated his own son
and tossed the head out along the highway because he thought the boy
was possessed by demons to another who had to be shot seven times
before he was incapacitated enough to deter his attack on a police officer.

Berry said he feels there are three pieces that go into solving the
problem; law enforcement, mandatory sentencing and rehabilitation. Of
those three facets he says the one we're doing the worst at is
rehabilitation, quoting a success rate with meth addicts of just four
percent nationwide.

"We've got to bring that percentage up," said Berry. "We've got to do
a better job on rehab."

He told the group that while overdoses can occur with methamphetamine
use, it is more common for users to instead suffer a slow
debilitation over several years. He said meth addicts typically have
sever dental problems and he even knows a local woman who had a
stroke at age 23.

Berry said his department has made 65 total arrests in the last four
and a half months and of that number he was able to link 58 of those
cases either directly or indirectly with methamphetamine.

"That's a lot of meth out there, folks," said Berry. "There are a lot
of people affected by that. It's not Mr. Chandler's problem, it's not
law enforcement's problem. It's going to take the village."

With budgets getting tighter for law enforcement groups like the
Region V Task Force, of which Berry's department is a member, he and
Chandler are looking for creative ways to fight the problem.

Among those methods are a new ordinance recently passed by Portales
City Council prohibiting sale of certain cold medicines with
pseudoephedrine over the counter in stores. Discussion of that action
drew several comments and questions from the crowd but no complaints
from the business leaders on the restrictions.

Both law enforcement agencies have programs in the schools both for
education as well as intervention in situations where children are
either involved in making or taking methamphetamine or where they are
in danger by being in a home where the drug is being made or used.
"Seventy seven percent of children found in meth labs will test
positive for meth," said Chandler. "And 33 percent of labs have
children in them."

Chandler and Berry urged people to watch for signs of meth labs by
noticing strong odors similar to ether or cat urine, watch trash
receptacles for large numbers of antifreeze and containers that are
unusual and to be aware of unusual activity at a neighboring
residence or blacked-out windows.

Chandler's office has also produced a door-hanger informational piece
that tells residents what to look for if you suspect a meth lab. It
will be distributed in coming weeks by supervised participants in the
Pre-prosecution Aversion Program.

"The bottom line is we need community help," said Chandler. "Meth has
started in rural areas and slipped into the cities. But I'm telling
you it has a death grip on our nation. It's the nucleus of all our crimes.

"If we can beat this problem you all are going to be a lot safer."