Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jul 2012
Source: Tallmadge Express (OH)
Copyright: 2012 Record Publishing Co, LLC
Contact:  http://www.tallmadgeexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5011
Author: Jeremy Nobile

METH MANUFACTURING COMMON IN TALLMADGE

As meth and heroin use peaks in Summit County, Tallmadge authorities 
have observed a particularly high frequency of meth-related crimes.

"Heroin seems to come and go with popularity," said Lt. Ron Williams, 
public information officer for Tallmadge Police, "but meth has been 
on the rise for awhile. It's not uncommon to come across either right now."

Williams noted the department tracks drug offenses in general, but 
doesn't specify the drug involved. Regardless, Williams said, both 
drugs and the paraphernalia associated with them have become "part of 
our everyday existence, even in a place like Tallmadge."

At least one meth lab has been discovered in Tallmadge so far this 
summer, Williams noted, but police have participated in several 
meth-related arrests.

"Meth is as bad or worse than it's ever been," he said, "and this is 
the worst I've seen heroin in my time."

Meth users are often caught shopping for chemicals and substances 
used to prepare the drug, he said, while heroin users are often 
discovered when overdoses are reported to police.

While both meth and heroin are damaging to the user, meth also poses 
dangers to the people around them.

"Both are very destructive," said Williams. "The reason we pay so 
much attention to meth is because the manufacturing process in the 
neighborhoods is dangerous."

Williams noted the cooking process creates inherently dangerous 
byproducts, which makes both traditional and "shake and bake" labs 
(also referred to as the "one-pot method") volatile.

Williams said the "shake and bake" method has nearly become the 
"exclusive" cooking procedure nowadays, but whether manufactured in 
plastic bottles or glass beakers, the related explosions and 
chemicals can ruin homes and harm people.

Toxic meth byproducts are often discarded in the trash, which 
eventually reaches a landfill, and those substances can also be 
damaging to the Earth.

"It's bad for the environment and bad for the neighborhood," said Williams.

Officers can be proactive in their search for meth, Williams 
explained, because of the nature of how the drug is made -- known 
meth users purchasing excessive quantities of pseudoephedrine and 
other meth-related substances, like batteries and lantern fuel, tend 
to throw up red flags. Such activity can be tracked through the 
transactions themselves.

"We see more activity on the west side of town, but drug problems can 
be anywhere," said Williams. "People may not realize it's going on 
because it's something they might not see every day."

Williams, who's been with the Tallmadge department for 23 years, said 
meth users can be as young as 14 or as old as 50.

"With heroin, it's not unusual to see a little older crowd," he said.

While meth poses a physical threat to neighborhoods and is equally 
threatening to a user's health, heroin can be equally as deadly.

"Heroin is what people overdose on around here," said Williams, 
noting there's also the public-health issue of addicts sharing needles.

Meth and heroin use is also associated with overall crime, Williams 
added, as addicts often resort to theft to acquire the necessary 
money or chemicals required to support their destructive habits.

While county officials may be observing a rise in drug activity in 
students, Superintendent Jeff Ferguson said he believes Tallmadge 
schools aren't as afflicted with drug problems as other districts may be.

"Thank goodness we have not seen a rise in [meth or heroin]," said Ferguson.

Last school year, Ferguson said there were no incidents involving 
meth or heroin reported with students in any school building.

"But we don't want to just bury our heads in the sand," he said. 
"Just because we haven't had any incidents or episodes with that 
lately doesn't mean we don't want to be vigilant in keeping things that way."

Ferguson noted students are taught about drug awareness as part of 
their health curriculum and through guidance counselors who reach out 
to the students and promote dialogue with school officials in the 
event there's an issue a student needs to discuss.

Ferguson also said the district's relationship with Tallmadge police 
helps ensure the schools remain drug free.

"We've been fortunate that Chief Zesiger and his guys have done a 
great job of showing a presence at the schools in good times and 
building relationships with our students so there's a comfort level 
between students and officers," said Ferguson.

"We haven't had drug problems like this yet," he added, "and that's 
the way we want to keep it."
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