Pubdate: Wed, 28 Sep 2005
Source: Messenger Index (ID)
Copyright: 2005 Emmett Messenger-Index
Contact:  http://www.messenger-index.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3946
Author: Janet Monti
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

GEM COUNTY CONFRONTS NATION-WIDE ISSUE

Gem County is receiving a lot of scrutiny about methamphetamine use 
right now. Court records show the majority of felony crimes are 
directly related to meth use. Over the last few years, this use has 
increased at a time when the number of labs "cooking" it in vast 
quantities has diminished. Most of the meth now coming into the 
Treasure Valley comes from Mexico, stored in a pastoral local where 
there's little law enforcement while it awaits shipment to the rest 
of the country.

Getting this under control involves the local residents reporting 
suspicious activity, calling more than once if need be. Gem County 
Prosecutor Tim Fleming has pledged to file charges on every case possible.

A town meeting earlier this month brought information about the hold 
meth grabs on those who use it. In a collaborative effort involving 
law enforcement from city, county and state, Idaho State Police 
Captain Don Van Cleave spoke how meth controls a person.

"Meth is the most powerful stimulant known," stated Van Cleave. Even 
so, the ingredient list is quite remarkable "most of the ingredients 
are poisonous on their own. Combined, they are one of the most lethal 
ingredients out there." (See photograph.)

Van Cleave said most of the labs nowadays are small, for personal 
use. They can be fired up randomly based on who's using how much. 
Children living in homes where this is a regular occurrence can have 
problems similar to those who regularly use meth. The average cleanup 
of a meth lab costs about $3,000, but he has seen them cost as much 
as $80,000 to clean up.

In other addictive substances-alcohol, cocaine, heroin, 
marijuana-once the initial withdrawal is over, cravings last nine to 
12 months, said Van Cleave. Cravings for meth lasts years, three to 
five depending on whom one talks to. Some will say the cravings last 
much longer. With many of the court-ordered programs lasting less 
than a year, this can set an addict up for failure by not having 
programs that last as long as the strong cravings.

Reasons for using the drug are probably as varied as the people who use it.

It usually results in a "high" that includes a euphoric rush, energy, 
confidence, anxiety, impaired judgment, reduce appetite and insomnia. 
People on meth can go days without sleep. This high is followed by a 
severe low bringing home the law of physics for every action, there's 
an opposite and equal reaction. The low includes depression, fatigue, 
hypersomnia, decreased concentration, increased appetite and anxiety 
or paranoia.

Crystal meth is usually more pure than the powdered meth. One gram of 
meth is about the same as what's in those little sweetener packets at 
restaurants. It's usually consumed by snorting (up your nose, smoking 
(usually in a pipe) or injecting into one's veins.

Because of the toxic nature of the ingredients, a person who uses 
meth starts to deteriorate from the inside out. It usually doesn't 
take long with a chronic user.

Those who have used meth a lot before their incarceration usually 
come to the jails with medical problems. On average, each inmate 
needs three tooth extractions. On the day of the meeting, there were 
27 former meth users in the Gem County Jail. The County taxpayer paid 
for each tooth extraction, a cost of nearly $10,000 a month. There 
are other medical issues each faces as well.

Because of the deterioration that's happening internally from the 
poisons ingested, it doesn't take long for other people to notice 
changes externally. For many meth users, their skin becomes covered 
in self-inflicted sores. The drug can make their skin feel itchy, 
like bugs are crawling on it. The person picks at the skin. Because 
their immune system is in bad shape, healing is slow or nonexistent, 
resulting in open sores on the skin.

Making a dent in this crisis is up to each person. ISP has only six 
officers who specifically work drug cases in the southwestern 10 
counties. One Emmett Police Dept. officer has partnered with ISP on 
cases with Emmett connections. However, drug cases seldom stay 
confined to one small geographic boundary. For instance last summer a 
drug-related murder took place on Oasis Road in Gem County near the 
Canyon County line that involved warehousing meth by several Mexican 
nationals with no other ties to Idaho.

Now, the majority of meth used in the northwest is manufactured in 
Mexico in vats that make up to 25 pounds of the powdered or crystal 
substance. It's brought up to Idaho where it's stored and then 
distributed. Idaho is one of a handful of states that imports meth 
that's distributed to the entire country (albeit illegally).

If you have information for police, all EPD at 365-6066, Gem County 
Sheriff at 365-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS. You may remain anonymous.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman