Pubdate: Mon, 05 Nov 2007
Source: Daily O'Collegian (OK State U, OK Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Oklahoma State University
Contact:  http://www.ocolly.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1275
Author: Ben Rabun, Staff Writer

DRUGS' NEW LOOK TARGETS FIRST-TIME USERS

Methamphetamine manufacturers are transforming meth  into 
fruit-flavored candy to sell a new version of the  drug.

However, meth production is still taking a sharp  decline and is not 
the epidemic it once was.

John Stanbery, a Stillwater police detective, said the  department 
has not had to deal with this appearance  yet.

"We've heard about meth being created like this, but we  just don't 
know much about it because we haven't come  across it lately," he 
said. "We do know that dealers  create it during the manufacturing 
process to alter the  appearance, though."

Wesley Yoder, a Stillwater resident, said he believes  this problem 
should be made more well-known because  Halloween was last week.

"Parents definitely need to make sure what kind of  candy their kids 
are receiving," he said.

Dale Higgins, public information officer for the  Stillwater Police 
Department, said that in 1999 the  department busted 70 meth labs in 
Payne and Logan  counties alone.

"In 2000, we ended up shutting down 80 meth labs for  both counties," 
Higgins said. "It was a dark time for  Oklahoma when we were locating 
nearly 300 meth labs a  year in the state."

Stanbery said it has been about a year since he has  seen one in Stillwater.

Douglas Wilsey, a Stillwater emergency doctor, said  Oklahoma used to 
be the leader in the nation for this  problem.

Higgins said since the pseudoephedrine law was passed  in 2005, the 
department hasA been busting only about  five to six labs a year now.

"What would happen is the drug companies would drop off  a month's 
supply of pseudoephedrine products to retail  stores and before the 
first week was over the shelves  would be completely empty," he said.

Higgins said drug dealers would simply load up as much  of the 
medicine as possible and then convert it to  meth.

"Most people don't know that there is only one  molecule, which is 
oxygen, that separates  pseudoephedrine into becoming meth," he 
said.A "All a  dealer had to do was remove the molecule in their 
lab,  and they had a deadly product to sell."

Stanbery said that since the law has been enacted it  has drastically 
halted the manufacturing of the  substance and made police officers' 
lives a lot easier.

"People can only buy pseudoephedrine behind the counter  now and two 
boxes at the most for one purchase," he  said.

Higgins said that because customers are required to  show their 
driver's license to pay for pseudoephedrine,  police can keep track 
of buying records to see whether  there are any abnormal purchases.

"We're usually able to find potential meth  manufacturers through 
this system," he said.

Stanbery said meth is highly addictive and has many  disturbing side effects.

"Meth can cause weight loss, anxiety, constant itching  and even 
severe brain damage," Stanbery said. "The  effects differ from person 
to person."

Wilsey said meth is a strong stimulant and possesses  adrenalinelike effects.

Stanbery said meth users will usually stay awake for  days while on it.

"The longest I've ever seen anyone stay awake on meth  is 13 days," he said.

Stanbery added that he remembers talking to this  particular user.

"While questioning the man, I could tell the lights  were on but 
nobody was home," he said.

Stanbery said trying meth is never a good idea and can  be compared 
to injecting poison into one's body.

"Don't do meth at all," he said.

Yoder said it would be a shame to see kids get duped  into using this 
drug because it looks like candy.

"School boards should set up an education program to  help students 
better understand the consequences of  this drug," he said."This is a 
bigger trick than a  treat."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart