Pubdate: Sun, 24 Apr 2005
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Lindsay Nash, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES AIM AT STATE'S METH PROBLEM

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has made fighting meth
production and addiction one of his top issues. In an interview with
the Citizen-Times, he shared his thoughts on the drug, its users and
its dangers.

QUESTION: Do you agree that the typical meth user is a white Caucasian
male?

ANSWER: I think that is a fair description. But we are also seeing a
disturbing number of women, particularly mothers who are using meth
and, oftentimes, we find their young children in the homes where meth
is being manufactured. In a case not too long ago in Chatham County, a
mother had her two children helping her make meth. Both children
tested positive for the drug. We are concerned that younger people and
people with young children are involved in the manufacture of meth.

Q: Where are you seeing the highest levels of meth
production?

A: Obviously, we have seen more meth labs in Western North Carolina.
Watauga County had the most labs last year, and this year it's
McDowell County. But it is not confined to rural areas. We have found
them in the cities of Raleigh and Greensboro. We have found them in
hotel rooms, cars and apartment complexes. We know that anyone in any
demographic group can get hooked on this drug because it is the most
highly addictive drug out there.

Q: Why are so many people making the drug?

A: Having a meth lab in your home is more convenient than going out to
buy the drug. A lot of people make meth themselves so they don't have
to take the risks of being in the drug-buying experience. It can be a
closed shop. People feel safer about it.

Q: What is North Carolina doing to combat the meth
epidemic?

A: I think it is the biggest issue we have right now. Important
decisions are being made right now in the General Assembly. The reason
it's so easy to make is because the ingredients are so easy to obtain.
I am pushing the legislature to put the tablet form of pseudoephedrine
(found in cold remedies) behind the counter and only allow pharmacists
to sell it. We've seen the number of meth labs in Oklahoma drop 80
percent after implementing the same restrictions. If we could cut
production even half of that much, it would make a significant
difference. Tennessee just made the same law, and I now fear that meth
makers will come across the border to North Carolina to get the
ingredients.

Q: What would the new legislation require?

A: It would require that the dry starch form of the pseudoephedrine
tablet be sold behind the counter. In Oklahoma, the normal cold
medicine consumer has simply moved to the gel cap form, which they can
still buy on the normal grocery isle. But to get the dry tablet,
consumers would have to show identification and sign a registry. This
is how meth makers are getting their ingredients. It's called
"smurfing." They load up in a van, then split up and go to different
pharmacies, each buying as much as possible. These meth makers are
getting their main ingredient from retail stores. If we can control
that, it's a very simple cure for a major problem; a minor
inconvenience for a major problem. I'm concerned that we could lose
this battle. But North Carolina can't afford to lose the battle.

Q: Are meth makers usually employed?

A: Some of them have jobs, but those who are strung out on meth can't
do anything else. They often turn to other crimes or sell some of
their drugs to others to support their habit. Recent studies have
linked meth to identity fraud.

Q: Do you think there is a link between plants closing down and more
people turning to drugs?

A: Any time there is an economic downtime, you see increased substance
abuse and increased crime. People often turn to that. I don't know if
there is a specific link between the two, but in general, substance
abuse is something that people turn to. And meth manufacturing is on
the rise. More and more pe0ple are learning how to do it. Clearly,
people can turn to it.

Q: Have you seen problems with landlords having to foot the bill for
cleanup costs when their properties become meth labs?

A: This has become a significant problem for landlords. New rules
adopted by the Department of Human Resources require quick cleanup of
meth labs. We saw a man who rented out a mobile home to a couple who
set up a meth lab there. They were arrested and put in jail. The money
the landlord had to pay to clean up the place was more than the mobile
home was worth. That's why we've got to fight these meth labs because
many innocent people end up getting hurt.
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MAP posted-by: Derek