DESIGNER DRUG USE ON THE RISE

Marijuana still reigns as the drug of choice among many area teens and young
adults.

But it's sort of like french fries, served as a side to other substances,
especially designer drugs, which are gaining in popularity.

Drugs like methamphetamine, GHB, ketamine and Ecstasy are on the rise in
Northwest Indiana, according to Drug Enforcement Agency data recently sent
to the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Meth, commonly made with household or agricultural ingredients in local
basements, garages, warehouses, and even cars, is the most popular,
officials say.

Dave Mizell, spokesman for the Merrillville branch of the DEA, said that
office confiscated 31,642 grams of meth last year and arrested 46 people in
meth-related investigations. Most of the activity was in the South Bend
area, but Mizell said 16 arrests were made throughout Northwest Indiana. The
majority was in Porter County, Mizell said.

While comparative data was not provided from previous years, Mizell said the
trend of meth use has been increasing for about two years, but is not
necessarily considered a serious problem yet.

"It is coming," Mizell said. "I really started noticing an increase about a
year and a half ago after talking to people in local police departments and
our own intelligence network. The trend started in the east and west and is
now moving to the center.

"The stereotype is that designer drugs are used by young white females, but
that's no more true ... than the myth that crack is used only by young black
males. Designer drugs are everywhere," he said.

Meth is reportedly moving into Northwest Indiana through Mexican gangs, the
DEA reports. Sometimes the drug is even sent by Federal Express.

Mizell said the drug is becoming so popular because it can be manufactured
in about 30 to 45 minutes.

"In places like Elkhart, there are a lot of mom-and-pop labs. With meth,
people usually just make enough to use themselves or they sell it and get
money for personal drug use," Mizell said.

But meth labs also are being discovered in both Lake and Porter counties.
Last April, one was found operating across the street from Taft Middle
School in Crown Point.

The drug sells here for between $80 and $100 a gram, Mizell said, or $600 to
$1,200 for an ounce. For a pound of meth, prices range from $5,000 to
$8,000.

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center reports that while 20 percent of high
school seniors have used marijuana by the time they reach young adulthood,
youths have moved on to the manufactured drugs like meth that are easy to
get at local clubs.

But Mizell said law enforcement is not after small-time, recreational users.

"Our focus is people bringing drugs into the region. We're focusing on
organizations importing the large quantities."

Indiana State Police spokeswoman Ann Wojas said state police statistics show
a dramatic increase in the number of meth labs seized by state police
between 1995 and 2002 -- from four to 732.

Wojas said state police processed the seizures of four meth labs in 1995.
That increased to 13 in 1996, 28 in 1997, 43 in 1999, 315 in 2000, 546 in
2001 and 732 labs in 2002.

"That does not include the (seizures) processed by other agencies," Wojas
cautioned.

While the numbers appear low locally, Wojas too said meth use is rising.
Last year four labs were processed by state police in Jasper County, two in
Lake County, and one in LaPorte.

"You can see it (the trafficking and use of meth) is moving north for sure.
We've been getting more and more calls about that," she said.

Wojas said state officials have been giving a lot of training, not just to
local police, but also to highway department officials and store personnel
who may handle trash and come in contact with meth waste. Wojas said acid in
batteries is used to cook meth while Sudafed cold medicine is a common
ingredient.

"We're training people at places like Wal-Mart to refuse to sell people 20
boxes of Sudafed to people at a time. What do they need that for? We tell
store officials to contact police or deny the sale," Wojas said.

Anhydrous ammonia, which is used in farm fertilizer, is often stolen from
area farmers to make the drug, Wojas and Mizell said.

"The ammonia is kept in field tanks and people sneak in the middle of the
night to siphon it into coolers -- even though it's very volatile and can
kill you. Throughout the state, there have been a lot of explosions," Wojas
said.

Mizell said police are concerned with the unusually high amounts of violence
often connected with meth.

But even more than the violence, Mizell said officials are worried about the
environmental effects of increased meth production. The waste is toxic.

"It's hard to clean up and one pound of meth can yield six pounds of toxic
waste," Mizell said.

DRUG FACTS

* Methamphetamine, GHB, Ketamine and Ecstasy are rising in popularity.

* Last year, seven labs were busted by state police in Northwest Indiana.

* Meth labs rely on ingredients such as battery acid, Sudafed and anhydrous
ammonia, which is used in farm fertilizer.

* Officials report meth, other substances, moving into Northwest Indiana.