Pubdate: Sun, 05 May 2002 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Chuck Bartels, Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa) U.S., ARKANSAS OFFICIALS PLAN 2-DAY CONFERENCE ON DRUG LABS Methamphetamines Top Agenda For Law Enforcement LITTLE ROCK - State and federal officials are to gather for two days at the end of the month to discuss new ways to combat Arkansas' methamphetamine problem. The state leads the nation in the number of meth labs seized per-capita, officials said Friday. However, they said, most meth used in the state comes from outside sources. The May 30-31 forum in North Little Rock will bring together hundreds of officials from federal and state agencies and civic groups to try to address problems in stopping meth use. "Our goal is to try to deter people from ruining their lives," said U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins. The summit will be the first of four in the nation, said Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., with the other scheduled for Lexington, Ky.; Oklahoma City and Hilo, Hawaii. Mr. Hutchinson said that meth use continues to spread and that residual crime and other costs to society are growing with the increased use. People hooked on the highly addictive stimulant are more prone to contract the virus that causes AIDS and hepatitis. Col. Don Melton, who directs the Arkansas State Police, said the drug is being used by younger people. Mr. Hutchinson said the human cost of methamphetamine is devastating to users and the people close to them. "You can't put a price tag on that," he said. More concrete are the costs to law enforcement to fight the drug, to employers stuck with employees whose productivity drops because of addiction and the price states and counties pay to clean up the hazardous materials left when meth labs are busted. Arkansas enacted a law restricting how much pseudoephedrine - a decongestant that can be used to make methamphetamine - can be sold over the counter to 9 grams. Officials said the law has resulted in decreased sale of the chemical. But people running illegal labs can go across the state line and buy in states without a similar restriction. DEA chief Asa Hutchinson, brother to the senator, is to speak at the conference. Arkansas officials have been seeking federal designation as a high-traffic meth state, which would make more funds available to catch producers and sellers. Susan Tischler of the DEA office in New Orleans said Friday that that money for that program has been moved to the nation's anti-terror effort, and the state won't get the designation in the near future. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom