Illegal Drugs

OFFICIALS BRACE FOR METH WOES

Area Law Enforcement Officers Expect The Problem To Spread From Surrounding
Areas

WILKES-BARRE -- The methamphetamine problem that has plagued Bradford and
Wyoming counties hasn't hit Luzerne County yet, but local drug officials
say they suspect it's just a matter of time.

The increasingly popular, highly addictive drug was examined this week in a
cover story by the national magazine Newsweek, which chronicled its
resurgence as the drug of choice of among addicts, particularly in rural
communities.

So much meth is produced in Bradford County that it has garnered the title
"Meth Valley," from law enforcement officials nationwide, the magazine
reported.

In Luzerne County, local law enforcement and drug and alcohol providers say
heroin continues to be the top problem. But they're aware of the increasing
popularity of methamphetamine and are monitoring the trend closely.

"Are we seeing an increase here in Luzerne County? Not yet. Are we thinking
there is a strong possibility we will? Absolutely," said Mike Donahue, head
of Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug & Alcohol.

Methamphetamine is a chemically produced stimulant that elicits an extreme
high that lasts for six to eight hours. It sells for roughly $30 to $40 per
an eighth of an ounce. Tt is relatively easy to produce, so many users
"cook" it themselves. That significantly reduces the cost, said Frank
Noonan, director of the regional drug task force of the state Office of
Attorney General.

"People think of a lab and test tubes. This is some guy with a stove,"
Noonan said. "They'll make an ounce or two for themselves and sell a little
bit."

There are a number of methods to produce methamphetamine. The most common,
and troubling, officials say, involves adding several hazardous chemicals
to pseudoephedrine, a substance contained in many popular over-the-counter
cold and allergy medicines

Meth producers, known as "cookers," have targeted rural areas because the
process creates a strong odor, similar to cat urine, that would be detected
by neighbors in densely populated areas, several law enforcement officials
said. But now production is moving to urban areas through the use of mobile
meth labs set up in the trunks of cars.

"We caught two guys driving around here who were about to cook. They had
all the gear in their car, all the hazardous chemicals," said Wyoming
County District Attorney George Skumanick, describing a bust from a few
months ago. "We had to call in a hazardous chemical team for Hershey to
clean it up."

Skumanick said he's seen a significant increase in the number of
methamphetamine-related arrests in recent years, with most coming from the
northwest corner of the county, which borders Bradford County.

The increased use is alarming not only because of what it does to the
addict, but the consequences it has for society, officials said.

When it comes to the toll it takes on the body, meth is in a class of its
own, treatment officials say. The drug, taken in a powder form that is
smoked or snorted, is a powerful stimulant that leaves users unable to
sleep, sometimes for days. It also suppresses appetite, so users typically
lose a great deal of weight.

Those effects, coupled with extreme paranoia and sometimes hallucinations,
make meth users far more prone to violence, Noonan said.

Equally troubling, Noonan said, are safety and environmental issues
associated with the production of the drug.

Chemicals used in the production, including phosphorous and ether, are
extremely flammable. That poses a significant fire risk to surrounding
structures. In addition, byproducts produced in the manufacture are
extremely toxic to the environment. Officers who bust labs wear full-body
contamination suits.

What's being done to combat the problem?

Law enforcement is continuing efforts to hunt down meth labs. In the
meantime, some groups are pushing to have retailers place medicines
containing pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy counters or otherwise restrict
access.

Susan Mizenko, prevention education supervisor with Wyoming Valley Drug and
Alcohol, said the agency is planning an educational campaign for local
retailers this fall in hopes of convincing them to take that action.

Donahue said he also supports limiting access, despite the inconvenience it
would cause for the general public.

"I would tolerate the hassle because, in the long run, it may prevent a
child from getting into meth," he said.