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NORTHEAST LEADS STATE IN METH ARRESTS

Northeast Wyoming is facing one of the state's toughest fights against methamphetamine, according to a Health Department study that also suggests the struggle may have entered a stalemate.

"We kind of have the indicators of the problem leveling off," said Ann Reyes, the report's author and a Substance Abuse Division deputy administrator.  "The problem is ( that ) where they've leveled off is pretty high."

State lawmakers commissioned the $100,000 "Methamphetamine Initiative Planning Study" to examine the scope of the state's meth problem, investigate treatment availability and evaluate responses to the problem.

The report found that Northeast Wyoming - comprising Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties - led the state in the number of methamphetamine arrests made by Division of Criminal Investigation drug teams.

Furthermore, the area lags in local treatment options, according to the report.  Campbell, Crook and Weston counties sent the second largest number of people per capita to meth treatment, while agencies in the region treated the fourth fewest number of addicts.  In all, nearly 40 percent of the area's addicts had to go outside the 6th Judicial District to get help.