METH CLASS PLANNED

Jim Bob Miller, the district attorney for Pittsburg and Haskell counties,
is ready to fire another salvo in the battle against methamphetamine.

He's set a free awareness class on the dangers of methamphetamine and
methamphetamine labs. The class is June 24 from 6-10 p.m. at S. Arch
Thompson Auditorium, on Adams Avenue between Second and Third streets in
McAlester.

Agent-in-Charge Jerry Harris of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and
Dangerous Drugs is featured speaker at the event. He's been with the drug
bureau since 1979.

Law enforcement officers can earn training credits by attending the
program, and it's also open to the general public, all at no charge to
those attending.

"I'm trying to get as much information out about the dangers of
methamphetamine that I can to help cut the supply off," Miller said.

Methamphetamine is not only dangerous to users and manufacturers, but is
dangerous to others as well, the district attorney said.

It's especially dangerous to children who live around methamphetamine labs
where the drug is manufactured, he said. Methamphetamine labs have been
described as miniature toxic waste sites.

Miller wants area residents to be more aware of the dangerous ingredients
used to make methamphetamine.

"Everything meth is made of is either poison or a dangerous chemical,"
Miller said. He mentioned anhydrous ammonia and lithium from batteries as
just two of the dangerous substances.

"Just being around that stuff all the time leads to other issues," he said.
"Lithium - it's nasty."

The program is set to run for 90 minutes, followed by a break, and then
conclude with another 90 minute session.

"I'm really excited about it," Miller said. He said he hopes not only law
enforcement officers, but school teachers, administrators and members of
the general public learn more about the drug's hazards as a result of the
session.

The course is accredited by the Council of Law Enforcement Education and
Training and can count toward mandatory training for law enforcement
officers, Miller said.

He said he hopes Haskell County law enforcement officers and residents also
attend the program.

"It deals with the entire meth issue," Miller said.