METH MAKERS NOW TURNING TO MOM, POP

Officials See Rise In Chemical Sales At Smaller Stores

An elderly couple, operators of a small country store, were puzzled when
they recently noticed their sales of certain items had greatly increased.

They mentioned to a relative they were having to order more items like
aluminum foil, salt, cold medication, coffee filters, kitchen matches and
rubbing alcohol than ever before.

When the relative relayed this information to a county deputy, he
immediately recognized the items were among those used in methamphetamine labs.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free DeKalb has provided most retailers in the
county with information on the ingredients lab operators buy to use in meth
manufacturing, but meth makers have begun turning to smaller rural stores
to buy their chemicals and supplies.

"Any large amount of materials [used by meth lab operators], other than for
normal household use, should send up a red flag," said Liz Wear, executive
director of the Partnership. "Some people might think it's none of their
business, but meth labs pose such a high risk of explosion, it is in
everyone's best interest to stop the manufacture of methamphetamine."

Wear said many county retailers have restricted the sale of some products,
and others have entirely stopped carrying some items.

The Partnership plans to make sure every store in the county, no matter how
small, receives lists of the chemicals and supplies lab operators may
attempt to purchase in large quantities.

Making methamphetamine is easier and more accessible than ever. There are
literally thousands of recipes and information about making meth on the
Internet.

An investment of a few hundred dollars in over-the-counter medications and
chemicals can produce thousands of dollars worth of meth, and the drug can
be made in a makeshift "lab" that can fit into a suitcase or backpack.

And, the average meth "cook" annually teaches an average of 10 other people
how to make the drug.

An increasing number of "dump sites" are being found in DeKalb County, with
empty cans, bottles and packaging from meth ingredients discarded along
with dangerous, toxic chemical waste from the "cooking" process.

Dump sites may appear to be harmless, but they can be as dangerous as an
operating lab.

"If we could tell enough people the risk of this drug, they'd understand,"
Wear said.

In order to better inform the public on the dangers of meth, the
Partnership has scheduled four more of its town meetings on
methamphetamine. Meetings will be in Geraldine on June 10, Crossville on
June 27, Collinsville on July 15 and Fyffe on July 16, all scheduled for
6:30 p.m.

People who find dump sites are advised to stay away from the area and
notify the DeKalb County Drug Task Force at 845-7866.

Retailers who notice customers attempting to purchase items used in meth
manufacture in quantities more than normal household use would indicate are
also asked to notify the Task Force.

For more information on meth ingredients, or for information on the series
of town meetings on methamphetamine, call the Partnership for a Drug-Free
DeKalb at 997-0000.