JOHNSON CITY - What started out as a small marijuana bust in Johnson County has since led to major recoveries of the drug in both Johnson City and Abingdon, Va. The investigation into possible drug activity started when the Johnson County Sheriff's Department provided information to the 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force that led to the successful execution of a search warrant there. During that investigation, the DTF received information that a 26 year old man would be traveling through Johnson City to conduct marijuana transactions in early October. [continues 194 words]
For the last two years, Tennessee has ranked second in the nation for having the highest number of methamphetamine lab seizures. This year, that should change. Meth lab seizures are down nearly 50 percent in 2006, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. That, officials said, is a strong indicator that domestic production of the drug has declined substantially. "Meth is still a major issue in Tennessee, however, we are pleased that we are seeing fewer labs this year than in years past," said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. "If we can curb the number of domestic labs, we will be able to protect many innocent children from being exposed, burned or possibly killed because of a parent's decision to cook meth in the home." [continues 373 words]
After more than 15 years of operating out of Upper East Tennessee, what has been called the largest drug trafficking organization ever to exist in the area was dismantled by federal and local law enforcement agencies. Authorities announced the takedown at a news conference on Friday at Johnson City's Downtown Centre, where officials said they have been working for a decade on the investigation, which culminated in a 12-count, multidefendant indictment in federal court. Thirteen individuals were charged in connection with the investigation, including Mark Allen Saults and Richard Glen Milburn, whom authorities called the "ringleaders" of the drug operation. [continues 628 words]
Officials Stepping Up Anti-Drug Campaign This Year. The statewide "Meth Destroys" campaign, which kicked off in early November and is being funded by a grant from Gov. Phil Bredesen's office, now is kicking it up another notch in 2006. In its first two months, the campaign already helped to increase attention to the meth problem in Tennessee through presentations to student groups and other public outreach efforts. As a new part of the campaign, the Tennessee District Attorney General Conference is preparing to roll out television public service announcements that present recovering methamphetamine addicts. [continues 479 words]
JOHNSON CITY - Hard-core illegal drugs are apparently losing their appeal, as many new addicts turn to prescription drugs to get their highs. "Lortab, Percocet and OxyContin are the main ones people are trying to get," said Dr. E.C. Goulding III, director of emergency medicine at North Side Hospital, Indian Path Medical Center and Sycamore Shoals Hospital. "They're narcotics that can give someone a euphoria effect. It gives them a little high all the time, just a feeling like they had a lot of alcohol." [continues 1357 words]
Hard-core illegal drugs are apparently losing their appeal as many new addicts turn to prescription drugs to get their highs. "Lortab, Percocet and OxyContin are the main ones people are trying to get," said Dr. E.C. Goulding III, director of emergency medicine at North Side Hospital, Indian Path Medical Center and Sycamore Shoals Hospital. "They're narcotics that can give someone a euphoria effect. It gives them a little high all the time, just a feeling like they had a lot of alcohol." [continues 1358 words]
