WARNING - METH LABS POSE DANGER TO MANY

Be alert! A methamphetamine manufacturing lab could be a hidden danger in
your neighborhood. What you don't know about it could hurt you.

Meth manufacturers creates toxic fumes, including ammonia, with significant
environmental dangers and secondary hazards for people, in addition to
producing a highly explosive substance.

Meth, as it's commonly known, is typically distributed in a crystallized
powder form and is highly addictive.

State officials claim that 27 police, fire and rescue workers were injured
last year because of exposure to meth labs. N.C. Attorney General Roy
Cooper said law enforcement has found meth labs in a little more than half
of the state's 100 counties and "mostly likely there are methamphetamine
labs in every county." He noted that meth labs can be found in the house
next door, the apartment down the hall, in a nearby room at a hotel or
motel. "We even have found mobile labs with people making methamphetamine
in cars," he said.

Meanwhile, the General Assembly is trying to give law enforcement sharper
weapons for the war on drugs.

We welcome the bill that gained tentative approval in the state Senate
would reclassify the penalties for manufacturing the drug from Class H
felony to Class C felony - punishable by maximum prison sentences of 2 to
171/2 years. In cases where children are endangered by a lab, the sentence
could be tougher, and a manufacturer could be convicted of second-degree
murder if someone overdoses on meth they made. The bill also stiffens
penalties for possession and distribution of substances used when making
the drug, reclassifying from Class H to Class F. Similar legislation has
been introduced in the House.

You can help give law enforcement additional weapons by contacting your
legislator at 1-919-733-7928.

You can protect yourself and your loved ones by being aware of suspicious
behavior in your neighborhood and alerting the police or Crimestoppers.

Be alert!