YUMA, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: METH IS EVERYWHERE

Methamphetamines can be found nearly anywhere in Yuma city and
county, according to Yuma's local law enforcement officials.

When asked where the meth "hot spots" are in Yuma County, Yuma County
Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jay Carlson said, "It's basically all over.

"You could pretty much go to any neighborhood and probably find meth
- - either someone using it or selling it."

Carlson said the proximity to the border makes meth and marijuana the
most prevalent drugs in Yuma.

He said he typically sees only one meth lab per year, because it is
now more difficult to get the ingredients to create meth. While
people in other parts of the country need those ingredients, Yuma's
short distance from the Mexico border allows for a large supply of
already prepared meth to come through.

"As long as there's a demand, the supply is going to be there,"
Carlson said. However, "It has probably slowed down on the big stuff
coming across, because they have tightened the border.

"It doesn't discriminate against anybody," Carlson said. "It goes
against everybody. It's available from the nicest neighborhood to the poorest."

The youngest meth addicts he has seen were 12 or 13. The oldest, in their 70s.

He said meth is tied to other types of crimes, such as burglaries,
car thefts and domestic violence.

"We arrest people with meth or meth paraphernalia practically every
day," said Clint Norred of the Yuma Police Department.

According to YPD statistics, there were 294 meth arrests in 2005 and
213 meth arrests in 2006.

"It's all over. It doesn't matter where it's at," said Maj. Leon
Wilmot of YCSO.

He said meth is "very" addictive the "first time" someone tries it.

Carlson said many meth busts are based on referrals from law
enforcement agencies, citizens who call police about suspicious
activity, and anonymous tips.

He said people on the street are generally dealing in grams or
ounces. A current average cost for a gram of meth is $80 to $100.

Carlson has seen the toll meth takes on users' bodies and lives.

"They have a lot of dental problems. The conditions they live in are
not really sanitary. They have open sores on them," he said.

"Basically, they get to a point where they don't care about anything
but getting high. They don't care about their family, don't care
about their jobs, don't care about their relationships, just getting
high. They forget hygiene."

He said older studies said once you are hooked on meth, you are
hooked forever. But, he says, it is possible to stay clean.

"It's hard for them. It takes a lot of work. Basically, they gotta
get themselves out of everything that reminds them of it. It is a
relatively high recidivism rate.

"I have talked to people who have stayed off of it for a few years.
All is not lost, there is hope. With education and treatment, they
will get off it and stay off it," Carlson said.