DRUG IS MAKING ITS WAY TO LAKE COUNTY

Meth Epidemic

Crank. Drano. Go-Fast. Grimace. Hydro. Stovetop. Ice.

Methamphetamine has many slang names but no matter what you call the drug,
it has been showing up across Lake County in ways that concern law
enforcement officials and social service workers more and more each day.

Manufactured mostly out of common, but toxic, household chemicals, the
stimulant is coming to be known as an epidemic of rural drug use. Cooking
meth has become an increasingly familiar problem in small-town America.

"Meth is here, meth is here big," said Two Harbors police chief Rick
Hogenson. "There's a lot of it being done in this area right now."

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) hosted two seminars on
methamphetamine use last week and the gatherings were attended by over 150
people, including law enforcement, rescue and fire personnel, educators and
social services personnel, health care staff and members of the general
public.

Those in attendance got some startling news about the highly-addictive drug
and its effects on people and communities.

"Every study that comes out makes us more alarmed about this stuff," said
Deborah Durkin, Meth Lab program coordinator for the MDH.

Durkin presented about three hours of information on the drug in two
different sessions held at Grand Superior Lodge. She told the audiences that
no matter how hard she works to try and cover all the bases about meth labs,
drug use and health hazards, "People tell me one more thing that we've
missed."

She cited the fact that an adopt-a-highway group recently found hazardous
wastes used to create the drug dumped along the side of the road.

"Chemical hazards to users are just the tip of the iceberg," she said. "This
stuff is starting to show up almost anywhere. We're hoping to raise that
awareness in people to be watchful."

John Moran, a chemical dependency counselor, explained that he's seeing an
alarming trend.

"It's a new animal entirely. In the last six months meth use has taken over
assessments and referrals," he said. "We hardly noticed it before.

Moran said prolonged use can lead to psychotic issues, depression and
suicidal urges, and unprovoked aggression.

"These people can't eat, can't sleep and the tendency is to keep binging in
order to avoid the depression when the drug starts to wear off."

While no meth labs have been found in the county as yet, local law
enforcement agencies are fast becoming very watchful.

"We're starting to see the influx. Meth arrests are up," said Lake County
Sheriff Steve Peterson. "There have been more arrests in the past three
months than in the past three years. It seems as though there's no problem
in getting this drug."

Peterson said he's looking for help from the public in identifying
suspicious sites, activities... and waste.

"There is a problem and we'll start seeing the social and medical costs from
its use. The drug is so addictive," Peterson said.

Meth is a stimulant that can be cooked out of fairly common household
chemicals. Durkin said recipes float around fairly freely, even on the
Internet.

What are some of the common materials used in producing methamphetamine?
Ephedrine from cold pills; anhydrous ammonia; lithium metal from batteries;
solvents such as acetone, starting fluids such as Heet or paint thinner;
sulfuric, hydrochloric or muriatic acid products such as Drano; epsom salts.

In other words, the drug is a toxic stew that stimulates the release of
dopamine in the brain, creating the sense of euphoria.

Durkin explained that large quantities of such waste products would likely
indicate that a meth lab is in operation. The wastes can end up nearly
anywhere.

A disturbing trend is that meth makers often have children who are then
subject to the social and chemical dangers inherent in those who use the
drug.

Social hazards include abuse and neglect, poor nutrition and health care,
exposure to chaotic eating and sleeping patterns, and an increased exposure
to violence, among other issues.

Kids found in meth lab homes have shown an increase in heavy metal levels in
the blood, likely from chemical exposure during the cooking process.

While the presentation focused on the hazards of the labs themselves to
children, first responders such as fire and police, and even future renters
or owners of such properties, the presentation was an eye opener about just
how dangerous the drug is.

Peterson said later that meth arrests and charges have led to families being
put in short-term foster care.

"This is just a bad thing all around, for the user, the family and the
community," he said.