METH LAB PREVENTION

DAVIDSON COUNTY - Meth labs are on the rise in North Carolina but
Davidson County leaders hope to stave off that trend.

The Board of Commissioners approved the creation of a Methamphetamine
Lab Prevention Task Force to educate citizens about the dangers of
meth and the labs where drugs are made.

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The task force was proposed by Commissioner Fred McClure, who learned
of the growing prevalence of methamphetamine during the National
Association of Counties' annual convention.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that gives users a high lasting up to
12 hours. It is usually produced in homemade labs with ammonia and
other chemicals, which can be explosive.

According to the State Bureau of Investigations, 227 meth labs were
discovered in North Carolina in 2004, up from 177 in 2003 and 98 in
2002.

The labs have been most commonly found in western North Carolina
counties, according to the SBI, but is slowly spreading east.

McClure said the Meth Lab Prevention Task Force will include county
healthcare representatives, law enforcement officials and school leaders.

"What we hope to do is provide an educational source so we can educate
kids and the general public about what meth is," McClure said. "We can
be proactive instead of reactive to the meth problem."

Davidson County task force will use resources provided by the National
Meth Lab Prevention Task Force.

Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said four meth labs have been
found in the county this year, two one in Thomasville, one in
Lexington and two in the county.

Last year 13 meth labs were found, 10 in the county and three in the
cities.

"If we can send the message that this is one county that takes meth
seriously then maybe, like water, it will take the path of less
resistance and not come to Davidson County," McClure said.