'DRUG OF CHOICE'

Police, State Lawmakers Targeting Meth Production

HOPKINSVILLE -- More than eight people have been arrested in Christian
County on methamphetamine-related charges during the past week.

Batteries, brake fluid, over-the-counter cold medicine and more are
purchased in large amounts by meth manufacturers everyday in order to keep
this highly addictive drug available.

A new state law being considered in Frankfort may change that.

Sponsored by Sen. Robert Stivers, (R-Manchester), a new Methamphetamine
Initiative would restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine in tablet form, which
is a cold medicine with brand names like Sudafed. Pseudoephedrine is the
key ingredient in meth production.

If the legislation is approved, the amount of medicine sold would be
restricted, and customers would also have to present identification and
sign for the pills.

"Anything we can do to make people more aware is a step in the right
direction," Kentucky State Police spokesman Stu Recke said.

Since the mid-1990s, Recke said meth has been the drug of choice for users
in the Southern Pennyrile, and meth labs have grown 633 percent statewide.

The ingredients for meth are cheap, recipes can be found on the Internet
and Recke said people find places everywhere to cook the drug.

"We'll find people cooking it in their homes, in their trailers, garages,
storage sheds, hotel rooms and even in the woods," he said.

Just last week, a Fort Campbell woman and four others were arrested after
being found with components of a meth lab at the Motor-Host Inn in
Hopkinsville. Recke said the majority of meth arrests come from tips, but
that each case is dangerous and different.

"You don't know what to expect when you're going into a situation like
that," he said. "You don't know if the person will be strung out or what
kind of chemicals they're dealing with."

One clue when looking for meth is the smell of anhydrous ammonia, which is
normally used by farmers for their crops, according to Recke.

"Once you smell it, you never forget it," he said.

The huge meth problem in Christian County is not only a problem for law
enforcement, it's a problem for the community.

Sabrina Grubbs, director of substance abuse services at the Pennyroyal
Center, said people from all different walks of life are using meth.

"We get users from all levels of education and all income brackets," she said.