CRYSTAL METH NOW TOP DRUG, KARL SAYS

BAY ST. LOUIS - Matt Karl heads the five-member narcotics bureau in Hancock
County. He recently sat down with The Sun Herald to answer questions about
his work:

Q How have you seen the drug culture evolve over the years?

A Mostly, it's changed in the types of drugs people use. Years ago, it was
nothing but marijuana. In the past few years, though, it has gone all the
way up to crystal meth, which has become the drug of choice.

Q What accounts for the rise in popularity of crystal meth?

A That's a question I really can't answer. I wish I knew why. You can tell
when people are on meth because of the sores. It leaves blemishes, like
scaly pimples, on your arms, legs and parts of your face.

Q Is crystal meth easy to get or produce?

A It's easy to get ahold of now. The stuff, way back, came from bikers.
Even truck drivers used it for a while. People make it in labs, many of
which are mobile.

Q What do you like most about your job?

A I like the challenges. It keeps me in the field a lot, and I'm not behind
a desk all the time. As an investigator, there's often a lot of paperwork.
And you sometimes sit at your desk and start putting on weight. But now I'm
back out with the guys. Sure, it's long hours. And as a family man, I don't
get to sit down with my family at 5 o'clock and eat dinner all the time.
But we have a close-knit group.

Q What would make your job easier?

A Narcotics is never easy. But if more people would get involved and
provide us with more information, then it would make my job a lot easier.
But some people are scared, and they don't want to get involved.

Q What's the drug climate among the younger generation?

A A few days ago, I interviewed a child, only 11 years old, who has used
crystal meth, snorted cocaine and smoked marijuana. This is the youngest
person that I've ever had to talk to about hard-core narcotics use. Most of
the heavy users are in their 20s and 30s. But it's beginning to go a lot
younger.

Q What should parents be on the lookout for?

A Kids coming in and sleeping all day. Not eating much. Their grades start
falling. They don't care anymore or don't worry about anything. Staying up
all night. Money starts coming up missing at home. Sores. Redness under the
nose from cocaine use. Bloodshot or diluted eyes from marijuana use. Spoons
in the bedroom that are burned on the bottom. Metal straws. Coke cans with
a hole in the bottom, which they make pipes out of.

Q What's the biggest obstacle you face in fighting drugs?

ATrying to identify the dealers is a challenge. It's not just one person
that deals. It branches out. And if one drug dealer falls, another will be
there to take his place. Drugs are going to be here when I'm dead and gone.