Pubdate: Sat, 8 Jun 2002
Source: McAlester News-Capital & Democrat (OK)
Website: http://www.mcalesternews.com
Feedback: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=139068&BRD=1126
Address: P.O. Box 987, McAlester, OK 74502
Copyright: McAlester News-Capital & Democrat 2002
Fax: (918)426-3081
Author: James Beaty

METH CLASS PLANNED

Jim Bob Miller, the district attorney for Pittsburg and Haskell counties, 
is ready to fire another salvo in the battle against methamphetamine.

He's set a free awareness class on the dangers of methamphetamine and 
methamphetamine labs. The class is June 24 from 6-10 p.m. at S. Arch 
Thompson Auditorium, on Adams Avenue between Second and Third streets in 
McAlester.

Agent-in-Charge Jerry Harris of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and 
Dangerous Drugs is featured speaker at the event. He's been with the drug 
bureau since 1979.

Law enforcement officers can earn training credits by attending the 
program, and it's also open to the general public, all at no charge to 
those attending.

"I'm trying to get as much information out about the dangers of 
methamphetamine that I can to help cut the supply off," Miller said.

Methamphetamine is not only dangerous to users and manufacturers, but is 
dangerous to others as well, the district attorney said.

It's especially dangerous to children who live around methamphetamine labs 
where the drug is manufactured, he said. Methamphetamine labs have been 
described as miniature toxic waste sites.

Miller wants area residents to be more aware of the dangerous ingredients 
used to make methamphetamine.

"Everything meth is made of is either poison or a dangerous chemical," 
Miller said. He mentioned anhydrous ammonia and lithium from batteries as 
just two of the dangerous substances.

"Just being around that stuff all the time leads to other issues," he said. 
"Lithium - it's nasty."

The program is set to run for 90 minutes, followed by a break, and then 
conclude with another 90 minute session.

"I'm really excited about it," Miller said. He said he hopes not only law 
enforcement officers, but school teachers, administrators and members of 
the general public learn more about the drug's hazards as a result of the 
session.

The course is accredited by the Council of Law Enforcement Education and 
Training and can count toward mandatory training for law enforcement 
officers, Miller said.

He said he hopes Haskell County law enforcement officers and residents also 
attend the program.

"It deals with the entire meth issue," Miller said.
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