Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jul 2006
Source: Journal and Courier (IN)
Copyright: 2006 Federated Publications, Inc
Contact: http://www.lafayettejc.com/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.jconline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1691
Author: Sophia Voravong
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

REYNOLDS TAKES AIM AT METH

REYNOLDS -- Halfway through this year, Indiana State Police have 
investigated or dismantled roughly the same number of methamphetamine 
labs in White County as they did in all of 2005.

But the dramatic rise isn't being attributed to an influx of users or 
because of easier access to the highly addictive drug's ingredients.

"We're really more aggressive than we have been in the past -- we're 
not waiting until we pull someone over or we get a call that a meth 
lab exploded," said Trooper Jerry Holeman, the Lafayette district's 
full-time meth suppression specialist. "And with our meth hot line, 
people are calling in when they smell strange odors in the middle of 
the night."

He hopes to keep the community's involvement going and take it a step 
further by educating local residents on the dangers of the man-made 
stimulant. Holeman, a lifelong Reynolds resident, has selected his 
hometown as the local pilot site for the initiative.

His effort is something the Meth Free Indiana Coalition plans to do 
statewide -- but further down the road -- as part of its Meth Watch 
Indiana program, by developing and distributing comprehensive community kits.

"I think it's great. Small communities need help like this," Charlie 
Van Voorst, president of the Reynolds town board, said of Holeman's 
plan. "This is to protect our children and to protect our Reynolds 
community. Meth threatens a lot of small towns."

Ahead of the problem

State police have not investigated any homegrown meth labs in 
Reynolds this year, but have dismantled eight to nine labs in White 
County, Holeman said.

Still, Van Voorst said the community of roughly 550 citizens would 
benefit from the knowledge.

"I don't believe we have a problem, and I've lived here my whole 
life," he said. "But you never know."

Holeman plans to hold two meetings in mid-August for Reynolds 
residents interested in helping combat the drug. The two-hour-long 
sessions will focus on identifying the signs of drug dealers and meth abusers.

He hopes the increased education will lead to more tips and less 
reluctance from residents who suspect their neighbors of dealing to 
contact police. The goal is get at least 50 percent of the town to 
attend and to further educate citizens in as many cities and towns as possible.

"There still are people who we run into who have no idea what meth 
is," Holeman said. "The hope is once people become more involved in 
their community, they'll help us keep it clean, safe and crime-free."

In January, state police created a meth suppression section, made up 
of troopers -- working both full-time and part-time -- to investigate 
labs and complaints in the various districts.

Holeman, the sole full-time meth specialist for the Lafayette 
district, said he's been working with area Drug Task Force units to 
investigate complaints and to check pharmacy and store logs of people 
who have purchase nonprescription cold remedies containing ephedrine 
and pseudoephedrine, such as NyQuil and Sudafed, which are key 
ingredients in meth making.

In July 2005, new legislation moved the medication behind the 
counter. Customers are limited to buying no more than 3 grams of the 
active ingredients in a week, and they must show identification and sign a log.

The meth suppression section also maintains close contacts with 
surrounding police agencies, including the Illinois State Police. 
Holeman said some people have tried to cheat the new law by 
purchasing cold pills there.

"They think they're getting one over on us," he said. "But if 
Illinois State Police call us, we'll follow up on their suspicions 
and do some surveillance."

A four-step program

Steven King, the drug and crime control division director of the 
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, which oversees the Meth Free 
Indiana Coalition, said officials plan to manage the Meth Watch 
Indiana program in four steps.

The Meth Free Indiana Coalition was formed in early 2005 to help slow 
meth's destruction in the Hoosier state. Other participating agencies 
include Gov. Mitch Daniels' office and the Indiana State Police.

Launched in October, Meth Watch Indiana took that a step further by 
educating retailers and store employees on the other ingredients, 
such as rock salt and antifreeze, used in homegrown labs.

What's next

The next phase, planned for later this year, will focus on 
agribusiness and a "tamper tag" program for tanks of anhydrous 
ammonia, a common ingredient used to make meth, King said. The tags 
will not prevent people from breaking into the tanks, but they will 
alert farmers as to whether someone has gained access to the valve.

"The farmer will know this and can report it to police," King said.

The coalition also will place "Meth Watch Indiana" decals on the 
roughly 15,000 anhydrous ammonia tanks across the state, he said.

After that step, the coalition plans to install "Meth Watch 
Community" signs in participating cities and towns.

The community kits are the last step, though the concept is "on the 
drawing board," King said.

"The kits will be looking at all aspects of working together for meth 
prevention and awareness. ... Looking at how everyone can bond 
together in a community."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman