WOULD YOU KNOW IT IF A DRUG LAB MOVED INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

The discovery of a second methamphetamine lab in Hawkins County in less
than a year is a disturbing reminder that the scourge of drugs is not a
big-city problem.

In the latest incident, a Mooresburg couple were accused of operating a
meth lab in a rented home. According to Hawkins County Sheriff's Department
Chief Detective Ronnie Lawson, the house was so contaminated with toxic
chemicals it had been condemned. The contents of the house, including
furnishings, appliances and wallboard will have to be disposed of for
safety reasons.

Hawkins County sheriff's deputies say that meth lab manufacturing shows
signs of reaching epidemic levels in this region and across the country.
Last May, a Bulls Gap meth lab explosion killed two men and left a third in
intensive care. The force of the explosion was so powerful a section of a
wall of the residence was blown away.

Police say meth cooks and traffickers often operate in small towns and
rural areas. They find them perfect havens to make and distribute their
dangerous drug. Hundreds of labs have been discovered in Tennessee in the
last several months. And the problem is getting worse. The DEA seized more
than 460 labs in the state in 2001, a 150 percent increase over the
previous year. With an average cleanup cost of $3,000, meth labs are also
putting a huge financial strain on the state's resources at a time when
money is in extraordinarily short supply.

Meth continues to ruin countless lives, filling jails and prisons - and
morgues - flooding courts and frustrating overworked law enforcement agencies.

Because most people may be unaware that they're living near a meth lab,
here are some things to be aware of:

. Strong odors similar to that of fingernail polish remover or urine.

. Residences with windows blacked out.

. Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade
exclusively in cash.)

. Lots of traffic - people coming and going at unusual times. There may be
little traffic during the day, but at night, the activity increases
dramatically.

. Purchases of large amounts of products, especially cold medicines.

. Excessive trash, including large amounts of items such as antifreeze
containers, drain cleaner, lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee
filters, batteries, drain cleaner and duct tape.

If you observe any of these tell-tale signs, immediately contact your
nearest law enforcement agency. Ending the scourge of methamphetamine
begins with each of us.