METH USE DOWN, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS

Kitsap County law enforcement officials are cautiously cheered by recent
battles in the war on methamphetamine use.

Meth, or "crank," is a highly addictive drug which, when shot in the veins,
quickly rots users' teeth, scabs their skin, and works as an accelerated
balding device. Those are only side effects.

Meth users commit many types of crime to get their drug of choice.

"Meth use drives our other crimes, especially violent crimes," Kitsap County
Sheriff Steve Boyer said.

Recent statistics seem to suggest the state and Kitsap County are, if not
winning the war, starting to win several battles.

There have been fewer meth labs discovered in Kitsap County so far this year
than in the same time frame in 2002. And 2002's lab discovery numbers were
down about 10 percent from 2001.

A big drug bust last year might be part of the reason for the "good" recent
results, according to Sgt. Randy Drake, who heads WESTNET (composed of
detectives from across the state).

Drake, a former state patrol officer now works for Boyer.

"Last September we took down a major Hispanic crime group from Tacoma that
had been bringing in 100 pounds (of meth) a month (into Kitsap County).
Taking that group off helped," Drake said.

But each good thing has its down side. Drake said the less meth there is
around, the higher the price for what is available.

"Last year you could buy (an ounce) for $400 to $600," he said. "Now it's
(selling for) $1,200 to $1,600 an ounce."

Another negative is, as liquid meth grows scarcer, other drugs are filling
the narcotic void.

"We're starting to see a lot of 'ice' here," Drake said.

Ice is a powdery methamphetamine product which is smoked instead of
injected. According to experts 'ice's' long-term effects are as deleterious
to a user's health as liquid crank. But the decay isn't as rapid or as
obvious as it is for those shooting the drug on a regular basis.

But overall, Drake is encouraged.

"We're enjoying the decline that the state and the entire nation are
enjoying," he said.

The veteran officer believes some of the positive change is based on user
fatigue.

"These things go in cycles," he said. "Like marijuana and cocaine, (to an
extent) replaced by meth (locally). And (meth) is just so devastating ...
and there are more treatment options, more education, more prevention
strategies," Drake said.

Penalties have also been increased.

"It's a felony to be caught with (certain amounts) anhydrous ammonia," Drake
said. "It's a commercial grade fertilizer and is used in ice making. They
steal it for the reaction phase of the cooking process. The State
Legislature made it illegal two years ago and now to possess it is a felony.
They (cookers) keep it in propane barbecue tanks."

Another problem has been cookers stealing Sudafed, a decongestant, which is
broken down and used in the cooking process in much larger amounts than a
tablet or two for nasal problems, according to Drake.

"There were mini-marts in the area that were willing to sell cases of
(Sudafed) at a time," he said. "We did some undercover stuff and put $1,500
on the counter and bought cases of it. If they (store clerks) knowingly sell
it, that is a felony. This is being attacked from a lot of different
angles."

Drake refused to call the current state of affairs a victory over meth
though.

"I think it's too early to call," Boyer added. "But I am cautiously
optimistic. It's not time to let our guard down. It's still the most serious
problem facing our community. It's one of the most important priorities we
have."