Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2003
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Tanyanika Samuels, The Kansas City Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/methact.htm
(Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act)

METH CASES RISING IN KANSAS CITY

Methamphetamine cases are rising at a slow but steady pace in Kansas City's 
federal court, signifying the difficulties fighting the dangerous drug.

Last year, the number of local meth cases in federal court stood at 55, 
down from 70 in 2001. This year, there already have been 39 cases.

State and county officials in Missouri are noting similar increases.

While the situation is not as dire as it was a few years ago, a lot still 
needs to be done, said Todd Graves, U.S. attorney for the Western District 
of Missouri.

"Five, 10 years ago, we were having trouble even getting our arms around 
it, it was growing so fast," Graves said. "Now we've got our arms around it 
but haven't wrestled it to the ground yet."

Methamphetamine -- a potent stimulant and hallucinogen -- is made in part 
from common household cleansers and cold medicines. Making meth produces 
strong, toxic fumes. Its use often causes violent and unpredictable behavior.

The meth problem primarily dogged the West and Southwest during the 1970s 
and 1980s, and then hit the Midwest.

In the 1990s, the federal government poured millions of dollars into hiring 
officers to combat the problem in "high-intensity drug trafficking-areas" 
across the country. These efforts slowed growth in some areas, but the 
Midwest continues to be particularly vulnerable.

Of the central states, Missouri tends to rank highest for meth-related 
seizures. For example, last year authorities seized 346 labs, dumpsites and 
paraphernalia in Nebraska, 487 in Illinois and 718 in Iowa -- compared with 
1,717 in Missouri.

However, the prognosis is not dismal for all of the Midwest. Kansas 
authorities have noticed a slowly decreasing trend with 728 labs, dumpsites 
and paraphernalia seized in 2002. That is 118 fewer than in 2001.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesman Kyle Smith said the trend seems to 
be continuing this year. About 290 labs have been seized so far.

"We're hoping that we've turned the corner," Smith said.

Still, Smith is concerned that the numbers could jump in the next few 
years. A new law allows some low-level drug offenders to seek treatment 
rather than spend time in the state's overcrowded prisons.

"It reduces penalties for methamphetamine possession and is going to result 
in more methamphetamine addicts out on the streets," Smith said.

Smith said he thinks some methamphetamine manufacturers will take advantage 
of the law by pleading guilty to lesser crimes to avoid prison.

Smith also said that the statistics could be skewed because some of the 
state's law enforcement agencies have cut officers who sought out 
methamphetamine labs. Other agencies have not completed the paperwork 
necessary to be included in the state's official statistics, he said.

Some progress is being made in Missouri.

Authorities seized 2,137 meth labs, dumpsites and paraphernalia in 2001 -- 
slightly more than in 2002. But the meth problem continues, in part because 
of production techniques using fertilizer, federal authorities said.

Missouri meth producers often use a simple formula involving anhydrous 
ammonia, said Shirley A. Armstead, a St. Louis area spokeswoman for the 
Drug Enforcement Administration.

"You don't need a lot of precursor ingredients to make the drug, so it's 
very easy to make," Armstead said.

The problem is particularly pronounced in the state's rural areas, federal 
officials said. Areas near Springfield and the Ozarks have become problem 
spots in recent years, Graves said.

"When you get out into rural areas, it sometimes is easier to conceal what 
you're doing, and sometimes the enforcement power is not there compared to 
urban areas," Graves said.

Metropolitan area authorities are concerned as well. In Jackson County, law 
enforcement officials are noting more activity.

Jackson County Drug Task Force officials busted 55 meth labs in 2002, up 
from 29 in 2001. So far this year, officials have seized about 30 labs. 
Still, that is well behind the pace of 1996, when the task force set a 
record with 119 busts.

The task force sponsors a campaign to educate the public and local 
merchants on suspicious behavior that could indicate meth production.

"The more we educate the community, the more tips we'll receive from 
residents," said Terri Klote, task force spokeswoman.

The solution is not an easy one, state and federal officials said.

Recently, state lawmakers took additional steps to curb the problem by 
enacting a set of bills that restrict sales of cold and allergy medicines 
containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in meth.

Graves said tackling meth will continue to be a priority on the federal 
level. He also wants to toughen drug enforcement activities in Cass and 
Johnson counties in Missouri.

The DEA's Armstead said the key is getting more public involvement, because 
authorities cannot be everywhere.

"The public has to be our eyes and ears on this," she said. "And when it 
comes to meth, our nose as well."
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MAP posted-by: Derek