SHERIFFS CALL METH BIGGEST DRUG PROBLEM

EVANSVILLE, IND. The crippling reach of methamphetamine abuse has
become the nation's leading drug problem affecting local law
enforcement agencies, according to a survey of 500 sheriff's
departments in 45 states.

More than half of the sheriffs interviewed for a National Association
of Counties survey released Tuesday said they considered meth the
most serious problem facing their departments.

"We're finding out that this is a bigger problem than we thought,"
said Larry Naake, executive director of the association. "Folks at
the state and federal level need to know about this."

About 90 percent of those interviewed reported increases in
meth-related arrests in their counties over the last three years,
packing jails in the Midwest and elsewhere.

The arrests also have swamped other county-level agencies that assist
with caring for children whose parents have become addicted and with
cleaning up toxic chemicals left behind by meth cookers.

The report comes soon after the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy restated its stance that marijuana remains the
nation's most substantial drug problem.