METH BATTLE WORTH THE EXTRA EFFORT, SHERIFF SAYS

Putnam Sheriff David Andrews, deep in his fight against this county's
meth problem, can think of only one addict who seems to be recovering
from using the dangerous drug. "She's a Putnam County resident and
she's in a rehab program in another state," the sheriff said. "Her
family tells me she seems to be doing well."

If she makes it, she will be the exception, Sheriff Andrews knows.

"There are people who get off this stuff, but the percentage is very
small. Most who use it get so addicted they just use it till it kills
them one way or the other."

For that reason and several others, the sheriff believes the war that
he and his officers have declared on drug dealers in Putnam County is
worth the massive effort it takes.

"This meth stuff is the worst thing that has come down the pike in the
drug world, in my opinion," Andrews said. "It's a nasty, nasty
problem, and it's affecting our children, our economy, and our
environment."

He said his deputies have busted at least 100 meth labs since he came
into office in the fall of 2000.

And county law enforcement records show many more instances than that
involving meth, from simple possession of it or selling it to being
caught with the ingredients or the equipment used to make it.

"The other day we entered the word 'meth' in our computer records here
just to see how many cases we've had where that drug was involved one
way or the other, and the system came up with over 400 hits," the
sheriff said.

As the many "cookers" and users get arrested and put in jail, the
fallout of their habit continues to cost taxpayers, both in medical
care that must be furnished while they are incarcerated and in
resources and manpower needed in law enforcement to fight the problem,
he said.

But the costly fight is something the public wants, and they are
letting the sheriff know they approve of the efforts, he said.

"We do something in this meth fight every day, and we intend to keep
it up," he said. "The citizens tell us they want us to keep it up. I
said from day one that illegal drugs were affecting a lot of lives
here and making a lot of people miserable and that as sheriff I would
work to return that 'favor' to the dealers."

He said meth has become a great problem because it is cheap and easy
to make and because it is so addictive.

It is also more dangerous in several ways than other illegal drugs,
including, for instance, having the potential to cause explosions
during the cooking process and creating fumes that can sicken or kill
people.

"It is very serious problem and one that the public wants cleared up,"
Andrews said. "We are hearing from many citizens who have fears about
this stuff being out there in their neighborhoods and from many who
want more information so they can help us in this fight."

He hopes the daily battles he and his officers are fighting in the
meth war are making a difference.

"But whether we do make a difference or not, it's a fight we have to
keep up," he said. "People who use this stuff regularly are going to
die from it, and we need to stop as much of it as we possibly can."

He said he and his officers are dedicated to their pledge to "stop it
or slow it down."

"Our goal is to run meth cookers out of this county."

The sheriff said he appreciates the public support his department is
receiving for their war on meth.

"And I want to say right now, it's not just David Andrews doing this
- - it's the people who work here," he said. "They are doing a great
job."