Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Hickory Daily Record (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Hickory Daily Record
Contact:  http://www.hickoryrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1109
Author: Jennifer Menster

DEALING WITH A DANGEROUS DRUG 

Catawba County personnel attend seminar on methamphetamine.

HICKORY -- Just one spark of static electricity to methamphetamine in
its liquid form and a neighborhood could be gone.

The drug isn't just dangerous to those who use it; it's also dangerous
to emergency personnel who have to deal with it.

On Monday, Catawba County emergency workers attended a six-hour
seminar to learn how to deal with the popular drug.

"You can never have enough information," Dan Kellough, a
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, told the audience of about 40.

Kellough's colleague, Donna West, instructed the workshop, which was
entitled, "Clandestine Labs: Awareness and Safety for First Responders
and Public Safety Personnel."

Her goal was to educate and spread the word about the dangers of
dealing with meth and all its forms. She talked about how easily
addictive the drug is, the short-term and long-term effects meth has
and how easy it is to make.

On a display table, West had about a dozen products meth manufacturers
use to make the drug; everything from cat litter to matches to cold
medicine to table salt. All common items you can buy at a grocery or
drug store, West said.

She talked about how meth users act.

"Everyone behaves differently, everyone looks differently," West said.
"So just be careful when dealing with meth users."

West showed several videos of meth users. One video was of a woman in
her 40s. She didn't have the typical skinny figure that most people
think female meth users have. This woman didn't flip out. She said she
took the drug for the high she got during the first 15 seconds after
the drug had been injected in her body.

Another video West showed was a clip of a group in a Charlotte hotel
using the drug. The young girl in the video was skinny and she was
flipping out - meaning she was dancing and moving all around the room.

West also told a story of how meth users can hallucinate. One user
killed his 14-year-old son because he thought his son was the devil,
West said.

Another meth user killed a trooper. The user then proceeded to cook
crystal meth on the side of the road.

"A lot of these people are depressed and don't care if they kill
themselves or their children or a police officer," West said.

Ron Lambert, a sheriff's deputy with Iredell County, attended the
workshop to learn about the hazards of meth and to keep him and other
officers safe.

"With a lot of new drugs, it's trial and error," Lambert said. "With
this one, you can't afford to error."

The chemicals used to make meth, such as lighter fluid or laundry
detergent, are flammable.

West gave the police officers, firefighters and EMS workers tips on
how to handle themselves when dealing with meth users:

* Keep a safe distance;

* Be mindful of how you talk to them;

* Keep your hand on your gun;

* Realize they may be hallucinating;

* Pay attention - are there items around that could be used to make
meth, are the person's eyes dilated, are they sweating?

* These people are dangerous.
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MAP posted-by: Matt Elrod