Pubdate: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2005 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Jody Pauley Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) COUNTY EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT METH Kanawha County is stepping up its effort against meth labs. The prosecuting attorney wants to educate retailers and members of the general public about methamphetamines and the drug's ingredients in an effort to rid the area of the problem. Prosecuting attorney Bill Charnock has sent out more than 100 letters and has printed 5,000 posters about meth. "I think people realize that this is a big problem," Charnock said. So far this year, Charnock has indicted 12 defendants on meth lab charges. Two people have been convicted. Charnock says that ridding the area of the problem is a three-step process. "You must have strong police presence, aggressive prosecution and community involvement," Charnock said. The posters and letters list the ingredients used in meth and the apparatuses used for cooking it. Charnock hopes that people will see the letters and posters and help police to catch the offenders. "I think people are aware of the problem," Charnock said. "I don't think they realize that meth is produced from household ingredients." Many retailers are becoming involved in helping to curtail meth labs and say they would support any laws that state or local officials would make. Bill Pile, owner of Pile Hardware in Charleston, said, "We try to screen for it as much as possible." Pile also said his employees would not sell the ingredients to make meth in large quantities to non-industrial or business customers. "I would abide and enforce any laws that they would make," Pile said. "We would be willing to do anything to keep people from making meth." Fruth Pharmacy in Charleston also is aiding in the effort to end the trend. The store has moved some of the ingredients, such as products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, behind the counter at the store. Manager Claudia Fisher said the store is also limiting the quantities of these items that people can purchase and is checking ID's. "It is a crying shame that people have misused a product and made it hard on the people that it helps," Fisher said. She also is willing to support any law that may be handed down to deal with meth. Laws that require people to sign for products, which are being used for meth, have been put into place in other states. Charnock said, "They did it in Oklahoma and within 60 days of the law taking effect, the lab busts decreased dramatically." There is no such law in effect in West Virginia, but Charnock believes that may change soon. "People realize that this is a problem and any inconvenience that would be caused by signing for these items will be minimal compared to the harm that methamphetamine is causing," Charnock said. He also said that he wants the community to aid in the initiative to get rid of the labs. "If they see someone buying 10 boxes of pseudoephedrine, they are not buying it for a cold. We want people to report it to the Metro Drug Unit," Charnock said. People who are convicted of producing methamphetamines may face 2 to 5 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth