METH WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper hosted a methamphetamine summit at
McDowell Technical College last Thursday.

The event, entitled "Combating North Carolina's Fastest Growing Drug
Problem" and coordinated in part by Senator Joe Sam Queen, focused on
meth manufacturing in western N.C., as well as the drug's dangerous
long term effects, not only on users, but also on children who inhabit
the homes containing many labs scattered across this part of the state.

Scores of law enforcement and medical officials from the region
attended, including the Mitchell County Sheriff's Department and
Spruce Pine Police.

"You used to think about illegal drug manufacturing... being in other
countries and shipping it [to the U.S.]," Cooper said. "With
methamphetamines, the manufacturing is going on right in our own backyards."

Nine labs were found in N.C. in 1999. Sixteen were found in 2000, 34
were found in 2001, 98 in 2002 and 177 last year. As of May 3, 2004,
114 labs have been found in N.C, and officials believe that by the end
of the year, SBI and law enforcement departments across the state will
find double the 177 found last year.

Cooper said with Senator Queen's help he would push for legislation
that enhances the penalties for manufacturing meth. He said they would
also push for tougher laws and sentences when children were involved.

"We find children in 25 percent of the labs we bust," Cooper said.
"And the problem with that is that these children are exposed to toxic
fumes. Scientists have looked at this and said children who live in a
home where methamphetamine is being manufactured might as well be
taking the drug itself."

According to SBI statistics, 69 children resided in 117 N.C. homes
with meth labs discovered in 2003.

Being exposed to meth causes long-term mental damage, potential cancer
and long term cognitive problems, Cooper said. In light of this,
Cooper believes penalties for precursor drugs, or owning the chemicals
necessary to make meth, should be also be enhanced.

Mitchell County Sheriff Ken Fox agreed.

"I applaud the Attorney General in his efforts to stamp out this
problem," Fox said. "Tougher laws with longer prison sentences will
certainly be a deterrent to those considering manufacturing or selling
the drug."

Fox said his department had seized three labs so far this year,
compared to one last year and one the year prior. He agreed that it
may become necessary to further restrict the precursor chemicals used
to make meth, especially ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. He said some
type of monitoring system should be established to crack down on
manufacturers buying multiple packs of drugs like Sudafed during one
visit to a drug store.

"California, after restricting the sale of these chemicals in 1996,
was able to reduce their labs from 2,090 in 1999 to 1130 in 2002," Fox
said.

SBI officer Van Shaw presented a slide show of meth labs found in
homes across the state. He said meth is not only a problem for locals
and for children in meth homes, it also takes a toll on the manpower
and resources of local law enforcement departments and the SBI.
Between $400 and $600 is required for lab analysis, man power,
protective gear and medical screening. These financial strains divert
resources which could be used for other areas, Shaw said.

Cooper said meth also causes environmental damage, saying meth cooks
frequently dump toxic materials into sewer systems, water systems or
alongside roads. According to the SBI, the production of one pound of
meth creates five to seven pounds of hazardous waste.

"We have to form together to fight this menace to beat back this
scourge, that has moved from the western United States right into
North Carolina," Cooper said. "We can do that by first learning about
it and second, making sure that law enforcement and other health
professionals and first responders have the tools they need to fight
it."