RETAILERS TARGET DRUG PROBLEM

BLUEFIELD - In an effort to put an end to the growing popularity of
methamphetamine abuse, officials said local merchants have restricted
sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines.

In Tazewell County, the use methamphetamine, a highly addictive
stimulant, has increasingly become a problem, according to Dennis Lee,
Tazewell County Commonwealth attorney.

"It seems to be the wave of the future, so we keep in close contact
with pharmacies, such as CVS, and Kmart. They are keeping tabs on how
much cold medicine is being sold," Lee said.

"In our store, we have a strict limit of two cold or allergy items per
customer. So far, we have not had any problems with people trying to
purchase more than the limit," Gary Beever, manager of Kmart, in
Bluefield, said.

Lee said that tight restrictions on the amount of cold and allergy
medicine being sold to each customer has been helpful in alleviating
the problem.

'We have had retailers call saying that individuals have made
suspicious purchases, and then we'll have it investigated," he said.

However, Lee said there are ways people can still "get their hands on"
massive amounts of cold medicine.

"Drug dealers can easily make their rounds and end up getting as much
cold and allergy medicine as they need."

In Mercer County, methamphetamine abuse is not "real prevalent yet,
but could quite possibly present a problem," Bill Sadler, prosecuting
attorney for Mercer County, said.

"I believe there was a case where a meth lab was busted in McDowell
County, but most of the time, people come from other states with the
drug," Sadler said.

"We took down a meth lab in McDowell back in January. The lab had the
capability to produce one to two ounces of meth a day," Sgt. Ed
Hensley, of the West Virginia State Police and Southern Regional Drug
and Violent Crime Task Force, said.

Lee said that truck drivers and motorcycle gangs are known to
distribute methamphetamine in the area.