Pubdate: Sun, 05 May 2002 Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR) Copyright: 2002 The Log Cabin Democrat Contact: http://thecabin.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548 Author: Chuck Bartels, Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) ANTI-METH GROUP TO SEEK SOLUTIONS Two-Day Summit The First Of Four Nationally LITTLE ROCK -- More methamphetamine comes from Mexico and other states than is made in Arkansas, and state and federal officials are to gather for two days at the end of May to discuss new ways of combatting the problem. Arkansas ranks first in the nation in per-capita the number of meth labs seized, and those reach a relatively small portion of meth users in the state, officials said Friday. The coming forum will bring together hundreds of officials from federal and state agencies and community groups to try to address problems in stopping meth use. "Our goal is to try to deter people from ruining their lives," U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins said. 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. Hutchinson said meth use continues to spread, and 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. After a news conference, he told of a young person he knows who had the academic background to be a candidate for medical school, but got involved with methamphetamine and made his life a shambles. 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 can be sold over the counter to 9 grams. Officials said the law has resulted in decrease sale of the chemical, a decongestant that is also used to make methamphetamine. But people running illegal labs can go across the state line and buy in states without a similar restriction. John Lunt, a section chief for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said the forum is designed to provide officials with information they can use to help stop meth use. "This is not a talking-head conference," he said. Officials attending the conference will be able to apply the information in setting their own goals and timetables, he said. DEA chief Asa Hutchinson, brother to the senator, is to speak at the May 30-31 conference in North Little Rock. Arkansas officials have been seeking federal designation as a high-traffic meth state, which would make more funds available to catch producers and sellers. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth