CRACK STILL A PROBLEM IN THE VALLEY

PARKERSBURG - The shadow of methamphetamine obscures the public's view of
other deadly drugs, but their presence in the area is just as strong, local
officials said Monday.

Last week, Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force agents, S.W.A.T. team members
and other officers raided a crack house on Spring Street, reminding area
residents that meth isn't the only drug in town. Typically, meth lab raids
dominate the headlines and newscasts, but crack cocaine, powdered cocaine
and heroin haven't gone away, said Parkersburg police Chief Robert Newell.

"It seems to be a more narrow group," Newell said, "but it never went away.
We've always had crack, cocaine and heroin."

Wood County Sheriff Stephen Greiner said though meth receives more public
attention, other drugs are no less prevalent.

"I guess you hear more about meth," Greiner said. "It seems like it's a bit
more dangerous of a situation, but they're all here," Greiner said.

Two people were arrested in last week's crack bust, officials said. Six
individuals were inside the residence when it was raided.

Newell said other drugs often are overshadowed by meth, but that is only
because dangers exist with meth that aren't as prevalent with other drugs.

No one has ever heard of a crack house exploding, but the chemicals used to
manufacture meth, if cooked improperly, can ignite and create an explosion,
said Wood County sheriff's Capt. R.L. Woodyard, coordinator of the task force.

In addition, unsuspecting neighbors can be put at risk by the deadly fumes
created when meth is cooked, he said. This isn't the case with other drugs
since they are brought into the area rather than manufactured here.

"There are more source areas for meth here," Woodyard said. "We have an
abundant amount of people who want to cook the stuff. Crack has to be
brought into the area."

Where there is meth, there is violence, Woodyard said. Areas prone to meth
problems also have an increased rate of violent crimes such as armed
robbery and domestic violence, he said.

About 85 percent of domestic violence calls in the western part of the
country are related to meth, Woodyard said. These are the sort of crimes
authorities attempt to prevent in combating methamphetamine.

Greiner and Newell said other drugs aren't less of a problem.

"It's still a major problem and always was," Newell said.

Newell said there were 25 cocaine arrests in Parkersburg in 2002. Of that
number, 15 arrests were related to powdered cocaine and 10 were for crack
cocaine, he said.

It isn't uncommon for the task force to raid 100 meth labs in a year,
Woodyard said. But Newell said the number of actual meth arrests is nearly
the same or slightly higher than other drugs.

"There are more raids, but as far as actual bodies, it's about the same or
a little more," Newell said.

Greiner and Newell said the task force investigates any and all leads
regarding drug trafficking no matter what type of drugs is involved, but
task force agents act more quickly on meth cases because of the risk
involved during the manufacturing of the drug.

"We act more quickly with meth. We try not to make those long-term
investigations," Woodyard said.

Meth labs are highly portable, creating the need for agents to act more
quickly.

With other types of drugs, the investigations are more long term, Woodyard
said. Agents attempt to infiltrate the sources of the trafficking.

"We more overtly investigate meth trafficking," Woodyard said. "Crack is
more covert and long term. It doesn't happen daily."

Though drug task force agents are more proactive in investigating meth
trafficking, they continue to investigate leads relating to the
distribution of other illegal substances, Newell said.

"They've worked on it all along," Newell said. "They do get leads. It is as
much of a problem."

Newell said the recent crack bust is a good example and a reminder of this.