METH TRAINING HAS LOW TURN OUT HERE

Williston was the first stop of 10 for North Dakota Attorney General Wayne
Stenehjem to explain why getting cold medicine will be more difficult for
residents.

Turnout was low at the Monday morning meeting at the Airport International
Inn where he detailed stricter access and monitoring of medicine to slow
the illegal production of methamphetamine.

The meeting was geared for retailers and the general public, but over half
of the 10 attending were law enforcement officials.

Stenehjem said agents will be stopping by each retailer, updating them
about the new laws.

Beginning June 1, all cold medicines containing pseudoedphedrine will be
locked away or must have a video monitor. The number of cold pills sold
will also be reduced from 90 to 60.

Anyone purchasing pills with pseudoephedrine must provide identification,
and the name of the person buying the medicine will be logged on a sheet.

Gauging by methamphetamine problems experienced by other states, the new
laws should spur change

He said at one time Oklahoma was raiding 100 meth labs per month.

It enacted a law that cold medicines could only be bought in drug stores.
"The number of meth labs was reduced by 80 percent," Stenehjem said.

He said retailers have been very cooperative here.

Stenehjem said this is the next step to reducing meth labs throughout the
state. He added a pilot program in Williams and McKenzie counties requiring
all anhydrous ammonia tanks be locked is forcing people to find the
anhydrous ammonia elsewhere.

Mike Link of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation said there
are 49 methods of making methamphetamine. "With the 'Nazi' method, 90
percent of the labs use anhydrous ammonia," he said.

He showed the extremes the manufacturers will go to make the product. At
one home in Williston, a surveillance camera and night vision goggles were
found.

Meth is taken orally, injected, inhaled or smoked by users.

Users often experience the similar effects of a heart attack. They also are
paranoid to the point of a schizophrenic.

Another symptom is teeth loss due to the destruction of enamel and poor
diet by users.

New laws here now reduce how much is allowed to be sold from three grams
with 96 pills to two grams. Gel cap tablets, once thought not usable for
making meth, are no longer exempt from the new requirements. They too must
either be in an enclosed area or be monitored by a video.

"You cannot buy cold medicine in Montana except in a drug store," Stenehjem
told the audience.

Retailers not complying by the new rules could be fined the first time up
to $500.

He said some retailers like Target have opted out of selling the cold
medicines entirely.

"We are hopeful the new laws will give us the change Oklahoma saw,"
Stenehjem said.