THE FIGHT AGAINST METH

TOWANDA - You're standing in line at the local supermarket, when you notice
something very strange going on.

The person in front of you is purchasing not one or two boxes of a common
cold remedy, but 10 or even more.

Or perhaps you spot someone at a local automotive supply store in the
process of purchasing a whole case of car starter fluid - even though only
one can is necessary to get a car started.

Maybe you've noticed strange odors constantly coming from a neighbor's
residence - odors that indicate some kind of chemical reaction is taking
place on the premises. Or maybe you've observed that your neighbor
generates lots of trash that he treats in a very unusual manner. According
to a presentation given Tuesday at the Bradford County Courthouse, these
and other signs are indications of the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Because the manufacture and abuse of methamphetamine is a growing problem
in Bradford County - as well as other areas of the country - seminars were
held in the area to educate emergency responders, law enforcement
officials, and the public as to what to look for and how to combat the
situation.

The program - "Clandestine Drug Laboratories: A Serious Community Hazard,"
was presented by representatives from the Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The
organization came to the area at the request of Bradford County Sheriff
Steve Evans.

When asked why the invitation was made, Evans said he believes that
methamphetamine is the biggest problem Bradford County is facing in the future.

"I have talked to sheriffs all over the country, and they have described
the devastation that the methamphetamine epidemic has caused in their
counties," Evans said. "I have observed an incredible spread since its hit
this county and I believe strongly that not only the sheriff's office, but
everyone, needs to combat this epidemic."

The sheriff said that methamphetamine has been a serious problem in
Bradford County for about the past two years.

"I want to firmly express my gratitude to the professional instructors that
come to our county to help us with this problem," Evans said. Between 75 to
100 members of the public attended the seminar in Courtroom One of the
Bradford County Courthouse to hear the presentation given by the
instructors. According to information provided by Michael McCampbell,
project director for Circle Solutions for COPS, methamphetamine is a
community problem which requires a community response. "It's critical that
we get the community involved to ferret out these labs," McCampbell
explained. "Methamphetamine is not just a drug problem. It also involves
the creation of hazardous waste and fire problems."

McCampbell explained that a study conducted in Longmont, Colo., revealed
that 90 percent of the child abuse for that area was linked to
methamphetamine.Another instructor with the program was Mark Rokusek, who
is a narcotics detective from Kansas City, Mo. According to Roskusek, a
major problem with methamphetamine is it is so cheap and easy to make. He
said that most of the chemicals needed for the manufacture of
methamphetamine are available in common cold remedies, household cleaning
solvents, and common kitchen matches.

Most methamphetamine manufacturers, Rokusek explained, are also users. They
get into manufacturing the drug to support their habit, he said, and also
end up selling some of it on the side.

Generally, according to Charles Stocking, a captain with the Cass County
(Missouri) Sheriff's Office, one person in an area who knows how to make
meth will teach 10 others how to "cook" the drug. These 10 will in turn
pass the procedure on to another 10 people, causing the effect to snowball
throughout an area. Stocking explained that in Kansas City, which has a
serious methamphetamine problem, the situation was started by just one
person who knew the formula for making the drug, and passed it on to a
number of people, who in turn passed it on to more people. Roskusek
explained that a good indication that a person is involved in the
manufacture of methamphetamine is the quantity of items he purchases. The
key chemical needed in the manufacture of methamphetamine, he said, is
pseudo-ephedrine, which is found in many cold remedies. In order to make
one ounce of methamphetamine, he said, a "cooker" needs 20 to 25 boxes of
such cold remedies, to obtain the necessary amount of pseudo-ephedrine.

Although about 30 clandestine laboratories were seized in Pennsylvania last
year, McCampbell said the number of illegal meth operations in the state is
probably much higher, due to the fact that the public and members of law
enforcement have not been trained to recognize the signs involved in its
manufacture. He said that in order for law enforcement to be effective,
people must be willing to get involved in reporting suspicious operations
to the authorities.