DA STEPS UP TO PREVENT METH SPREAD

TROY - Rather than wait for the dark cloud of methamphetamine abuse
to hit this area, Rensselaer County District Attorney Patricia
DeAngelis is taking steps to ensure the police and residents can spot
potential uses and producers of the highly addictive homemade drug.

With a throng of state and local law enforcement leaders behind her,
DeAngelis announced Wednesday a new initiative designed to prevent
the spread of methamphetamine in Rensselaer County.

DeAngelis' concern over the issue coincides with Wednesday's National
Association of Counties (NACO) release of a survey that found
methamphetamine (known on the street as crystal meth, speed or crank)
has supplanted cocaine as the top drug-related law enforcement problem.

Methamphetamine users can sometimes go for days with sleep or food,
which can lead to violent outbreaks, physical deterioration even suicide.

"It's a mind altering drug that can lead to violence," said
DeAngelis, in the grand jury room of the Rensselaer County
Courthouse. "It's highly addictive . once you try it, you're hooked."

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent John Bryfonski, who was in
attendance, recounted cases of addicted parents sometimes putting
their drug habits over the welfare of their children.

"They seek the drug to the detriment of everyone in their lives,"
said Bryfonski, who heads up the Albany office. "A mother left her
two-year-old home alone for days while she went to get meth and after
she was caught, all she cared about was the drug. ... It captivates the user."

DeAngelis pointed towards how in Indiana 80 percent of inmates in one
county were being held on some methamphetamine related arrest and how
its use can lead to brain damage, domestic violence and child abuse.

"It's not here yet in full force, but it's coming," said DeAngelis.
"It will lead to more crime, more children left without parents (and)
increased costs to the welfare system."

Consequently, DeAngelis has decided to launch a campaign that will
warn businesses and residents to be on the lookout for individuals
looking to purchase or steal the ingredients needed to make the drug.

Methamphetamine is usually produced in clandestine makeshift home
laboratories using common household chemicals in conjunction with
asthma or over the counter cold remedies containing ephedrine or
pseudo-ephedrine.

Chemicals routinely used to create the drug include; acetone, iodine,
gasoline additives, paint thinner, propane tanks, methanol, sodium
hydroxide, lye, lithium batteries, drain cleaner and the toxic list
goes on and on.

Methamphetamine producers can be found attempting to make their
purchases from local pharmacies and stores in large quantities.

Due to volatile chemicals used, the homemade labs are extremely
dangerous to neighboring residences. Explosions involving such labs
have killed the drug producers and innocent victims.

Some counties in Midwest and southwest rural states where the drug is
most prevalent, have already implemented laws that prevent anything
over a certain amount of cold medication from being purchased. The
medication is also now kept behind the counter instead on the aisle shelves.

Authorities here are asking store owners and residents to be aware of
any large or frequent purchase of some of the products listed above.

DeAngelis' office will be sending out informational fliers on the
topic to businesses throughout the county in an effort to educate them.

"People might not know why a person is buying five (or) ten packs of
cold medication to make meth," said DeAngelis. "Hopefully they'll
know and give us some kind of tip that could lead to these dangerous labs."

Local authorities will also receive training in knowing how to spot a
potential methamphetamine lab and what precautionary steps are needed
to be taken when coming into contact with the toxic chemicals inside.

DeAngelis also said that there has been only one arrest in the county
where the drug was involved, but added that some local drug treatment
centers have reported cases of methamphetamine addiction.

Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, who was also in attendance, applauded
DeAngelis' proactive stance on the issue.

"By working together with other agencies, we can be ready for this
wave of drugs and crime that could come our way," said Tutunjian.

With the problem getting worse everyday, federal leaders are now
being pressured to increase funding to law enforcement and other
agencies attempting to stop the spread.

Currently, more federal dollars are doled out to counter marijuana
sales and abuse, but officials from NACO say the methamphetamine
"epidemic" is a more serious form of drug abuse that needs more attention.