METH DISAPPEARS - SYNTHETIC DRUGS HOT

When it comes to drug trends, synthetic or man-made drugs are hot
while methamphetamine is not.

Director Tommy Farmer of the Tennessee Methamphetamine Drug Task
Force said the meth epidemic showed a dramatic decrease in
manufacturing labs since the state made it tougher last year to buy
Ephedrine, the key component of the illegal drug.

More than 1,565 labs were seized in the peak year of 2005 while only
210 labs were confiscated this year. Tennessee is still fourth in the
nation for confiscation of illegal meth labs.

"But just because we reduced the labs, we didn't reduce the meth
addicts by the same amount," Farmer said. "When you find a meth
addict, you find a poly drug user. They're trying to go after
something as a similar effect."

In Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, three lieutenants who
supervise drug units have seen an increase in Ecstasy pills and
prescription painkillers to take the place of meth. Ecstasy is a
man-made drug similar to methamphetamine and popular with young adults.

Crack cocaine and marijuana are still the most preferred drugs while
the hallucinogenic LSD is making a comeback.

They've also seen an increase in property crimes to support illegal
drug habits -- a trend that affects everyone.

Murfreesboro Vice Lt. Nathan McDaniel said about 70 to 85 percent of
the city's property crimes are directly related to drugs.

"When you get burglars, most times it's somebody on crack," McDaniel
said. "Crack's our biggest problem."

Sheriff's Lt. Chris Haynes, who supervises the Interstate Crime
Enforcement Unit, estimated 85 percent of the county's property
crimes are drug-related.

"It affects everybody because insurance rates are higher because of
property crimes," Haynes said. "It affects 100 percent of everybody
in some way."

Illegal drugs may be related to shootings and murders too, Haynes
said.

Sheriff's Lt. Egon Grissom, who supervises the narcotics division,
said increases in drug use and abuse costs taxpayers more to pay for
prosecuting defendants and jailing prisoners.

Farmer said meth users in particular endanger their children when
manufacturing the illegal drug at home.

"It's such a drain on society," Farmer said. "It is not a victimless
crime. It destroys the whole core of the family."

Drugs of choice

The sheriff's office attacks the drug problem through confiscations
by the ICE unit and through long-term investigations by the narcotics
unit.

Haynes said marijuana is the No. 1 drug of choice followed by
cocaine. The quality of the marijuana is improved with a higher
potency than 10 to 15 years ago, he said.

ICE deputies stopped a 14-pound delivery of cocaine to Murfreesboro
last week.

Ecstasy, a drug commonly used by young people for a high, is becoming
more popular. It's shipped from Mexico to Atlanta to Middle Tennessee
for distribution.

"Our unit has seized over 14,000 Ecstasy pills this year," Haynes
said.

Grissom estimated Ecstasy sells for about $7 to $10 per pill. It's
popular with college students.

Like Ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms are popular with young adults and
college students.

Haynes said ICE officers confiscated about three pounds of the dried
long-stem and button mushrooms last year that sell for about $180 per
ounce.

Grissom said his detectives focus on long-term cases, trying to stop
the drug dealers and suppliers.

Detectives seized about 100 to 150 hits of LSD through sales and a
search warrant of college students' residences. The drug is sold on
pieces of blotter paper for $10 a hit.

"You put it on your tongue and let it dissolve," Grissom said. "I'm
told it's more potent than it was in the '60s and '70s. You don't
know how potent it is. People need to be aware of it."

Another disturbing trend is the increase in abuse of prescription
drugs.

People get prescriptions from different doctors but pharmacists
frequently work with law enforcement agencies on abusers.

McDaniel, who supervises Murfreesboro's drug unit, said crack cocaine
is the No. 1 drug in Murfreesboro.

"There's heavyweight here," McDaniel said, observing, "Cocaine is the
only drug you can buy from a total stranger".

Runners for drug dealers on the street commonly sell crack cocaine.

Murfreesboro Police's special Crime Suppression Unit investigates the
street dealers while the vice unit goes over the mid-to upper-level
dealers.

Ecstasy appeals to young adults and teens. It's commonly sold in
nightclubs and bars.

Some disturbing trends are the increase of heroin or prescription
drug abuse.

"We've seen heroin pop up in the last year," McDaniel said.

Heroin is packaged in small balloons. The drug may be shot up with a
needle, smoked or inhaled.

Many users of prescription pills order the drugs from the Internet
from Mexico or steal from family members.

Teens steal from parents or grandparents and bring the mix of drugs
to parties where everyone combines the prescriptions. They select a
pill and take it without knowing what they're using. Teens also sniff
glue and the gas from whipped cream containers.

Future trends

Farmer said drug abusers are using clandestine labs to develop other
compounds of drugs. They are using the Internet and technology to
make the drugs in the secret labs.

"In my opinion, we will deal with the clandestine production of
synthetic drugs" such as acid or GHB, commonly sold in gyms, Farmer
predicts. "The future is synthetic. All types of substances will be
diverted from legitimate uses."

To combat the problem, a comprehensive approach must be used.

"We just can't let law enforcement fix in by putting people in jail,"
Farmer said.

Drug courts are addressing the addiction of drugs and offering
treatment to help fight the war on drugs.

The drug problem affects everyone, the director said.

Users and abusers frequently are unemployed and don't contribute to
the economy, taking away from the job market and lowering the tax
base, Farmer said. With prolonged use, the users will have to rely on
public health and nursing home care. Their children are at risk from
exposure to drugs and deals.

"You have to stop that behavior," Farmer said.