TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH AGAINST METH

This week, I covered three arrests in Boaz related to the manufacturing and
possession of crystal methamphetamine. It seems as though every other day,
Deputy Chief Todd Adams with the Boaz Police Department is giving me a
police or arrest report concerning crystal methamphetamine in the area.

In addition, in my own reading of area newspapers, including this one and
my hometown paper The Gadsden Times, I seem to come across an article
daily, if not several articles, about lab busts, meth-related arrests and
the expansion of the drug in our urban and rural areas throughout
northeastern Alabama.

When Deputy Chief Adams called me on Tuesday to report on and take photos
of a crystal methamphetamine lab precursor bust made at the local Wal-Mart
Supercenter, I did not think "Wow! A bust!" Instead, I thought, "Well, here
we go again."

It seems the spread of crystal methamphetamine has sprung up everywhere.
Even in my tiny community of Ball Play, there have been several
meth-related arrests. The problem with the drug is not restricted to urban
areas like Birmingham, Gadsden or Huntsville. Instead, the drug and the
horrid consequences it brings have been felt all across our area,
especially in the tiny town of Grant, where Police Chief Verlon LeMaster, a
forerunner at the battle against crystal methamphetamine in his area,
tragically lost his life a week ago.

The crystal methamphetamine epidemic here and across Alabama has not been
silent. Almost every person knows someone who has been arrested for or
effected by the drug. I personally have a good friend from high school who
is now a convicted felon at 24 because of her involvement with crystal
methamphetamine. My heart breaks for her because we were so close, but the
experience did give me an up-close and personal look at just what this drug
can do to a person, a family and a community.

Our area police departments are fighting hard against the crystal
methamphetamine problem in this area and all across Marshall, Etowah and
DeKalb counties. Because of meth-related problems in my community, deputies
with the Etowah County Sheriff's Department have stepped up patrols of our
country roads. I remember when I was younger, the only reason the deputies
came to Ball Play was because something minuscule had occurred. Now, their
presence in our community is commonplace.

It is important for us as citizens to support and assist those in law
enforcement who are trying their hardest to fight crystal methamphetamine
in this and the surrounding areas. We should all become proactive in the
fight, not just stand silently by as law enforcement does all of the work.

If you believe your neighbors or someone in your area may be using or
manufacturing crystal methamphetamine, call your local law enforcement
officers. Most agencies have a suspicious activity hotline, where you can
call and give information without leaving your name and the number you call
from will not be traced. Officers will keep tips anonymous, and you should
not fear retribution for your tips and leads which may help officers combat
some, if not all, of the crystal methamphetamine problem in northeast Alabama.

Educate yourself about crystal methamphetamine and do what you can to help.
I applaud the Merchants Against Meth program, which trains retail workers
to look for customers buying large quantities of items that can be used to
make a lab. Next time you are shopping at Wal-Mart or any store, take a
moment to glance at someone's buggy. If they have bottles upon bottles of
gas line anti-freeze or way more coffee filters than a household could
possibly use, you may want to make a mental description and alert
authorities or a store manager.

It is important for us to join together and assist local law enforcement
all we can in the fight against crystal methamphetamine here and
everywhere. Don't sit idly by. Don't wait for someone else to call
authorities. Take the proactive approach - Do it yourself and do it now!