Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 2004 Source: State Gazette, The (TN) Copyright: 2004 State Gazette Contact: http://www.dyersburgnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1792 Author: Kathy Krone Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON METH LABS PLANNED THURSDAY When it comes to methamphetamines, it isn't enough to just say "no." Methamphetamines pose a life-threatening danger to everyone. The manufacturing process involves an assortment of toxic chemicals that may explode unexpectedly. Meth labs set up in rural areas may contaminate the environment. Those set up in homes, apartments and hotel rooms often contaminate the rooms with toxins seeping into the carpet, the paint on the walls and even the blades of ceiling fans. Lt. Steve Isbell of the Dyersburg Police Department said he heard about a girl who became ill after her family moved into a rental home. Hospital tests showed that she had been exposed to unusual toxins and tests in the home documented high levels of toxins in the carpet and the ceiling-fan blades. The family later learned that previous tenants manufactured methamphetamines in the house. As it is now, landlords and persons selling real estate don't have to disclose that kind of information to potential tenants or buyers, Isbell said. That could change. The lieutenant said he'd heard that state legislators are considering a bill that would require landlords and sellers to reveal whether the property had ever been used as a meth lab. If people are going to protect themselves from dangers like these, they need to know what to look for and to be observant. The Dyer County Family and Community Education Clubs, Woodmen of the World and the Tennessee National Guard are working together to do that. On Thursday, May 13, they plan to bring a special display to the Dyersburg Middle School. The National Guard's Counterdrug Unit has developed a mobile display of items and ingredients commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamines. "Basically, we have a mock simulated meth lab," said Sgt. Rebecca Agee of the Counterdrug Unit. The items on display were confiscated from real meth labs in Tennessee, cleaned up and then sealed behind glass panels. Dyersburg Middle School students will have an opportunity to tour the display on Thursday, thanks to a schedule devised by school counselor Connie Wright. The public may tour the display between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the middle school. Then, at 6 p.m., the National Guard plans to present a PowerPoint program that describes the dangers of methamphetamines, common ingredients, psychological effects of the illegal drug and what the public can do to help fight the problem. Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt and Isbell plan to attend the meeting to answer questions about the local meth problem. All of the activities are free and open to the public. Glynda Campbell, an FCE member and the DMS teacher, said she saw the presentation during a district FCE meeting in Jackson and was impressed. So, when Myra Storey of Obion County, the Tennessee FCE president, encouraged fellow members to help educate people about the meth problem, the Dyer County FCE members took her up on the challenge. Woodmen of the World joined the campaign. Frances Sherrill said the educational program will be the group's "Join Hands Day" activity this month. Sheriff Holt said meth labs are a growing problem in Dyer County. "As far as the number of cases, I don't know that it ranks No. 1," he said. "As far as the health problems and everything that goes along with it, yeah, it is." Meth labs are often a bigger problem in rural areas, where it may be easier for drug manufacturers to hide, Holt said. Some of them don't even bother hiding. After talking to Holt about meth labs, one Dyer County FCE member suddenly realized that she'd come dangerously close to a meth lab last year. She said she woke up one night to the awfulest smell and saw some people in the field next to her home. She said she shut the windows and tried to go back to sleep. Now, months later, she realizes that the people in the field that night were manufacturing meth. If it happens again, she said she plans to alert the sheriff's department. Holt said it takes that kind of citizen awareness to battle the meth problem. He encouraged people to pay attention to what's happening around them and who's buying potential meth ingredients. He said he saw a man buy a case of lithium batteries at Wal-Mart one day; lithium batteries are used in the manufacturing process. People who smell a strong ammonia aroma should call the police or sheriff's department immediately; they may be able to catch the manufacturers in the act, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin