Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Copyright: 2003 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Author: Associated Press PROGRESS COMES SLOWLY IN METH FIGHT Kansas City - The war on methamphetamine might be making a dent in the drug problem, but so far, not a very big one. The number of local meth cases in federal court at Kansas City is rising at a slow but steady pace, highlighting the difficulties of battling a highly addictive drug that is relatively easy to make. The meth situation might not be as dire as it was in the past, officials said, but it's still not showing any signs of going away. "Five, 10 years ago, we were having trouble even getting our arms around it, it was growing so fast," said Todd Graves, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. "Now, we've got our arms around it, but haven't wrestled it to the ground yet." Methamphetamine is a potent stimulant made in part from common household cleansers and cold medicines. Making meth produces strong, toxic fumes, and its use often causes violent, unpredictable behavior. It's a problem that took root in the West and Southwest in the 1970s and 1980s, then migrated into the Midwest. In the 1990s, the federal government created "high-intensity drug trafficking areas" across the country, where millions of dollars were pumped into hiring officers to combat the problem. Those efforts slowed growth in some areas, but meth makers have been harder to identify and catch in the Midwest. Missouri ranks highest among central states in the number of meth-related seizures. Last year, 1,717 labs, dumpsites and paraphernalia were seized in Missouri, compared to 346 in Nebraska and 718 in Iowa. Federal authorities said the meth problem continues in the Midwest because of production techniques that use fertilizer - commonly found on most farms. Meth producers in Missouri often use a simple formula that includes anhydrous ammonia, said Shirley A. Armstead, a St. Louis area spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration: "You don't need a lot of precursor ingredients to make the drug, so it's very easy to make," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake