Pubdate: Sat, 19 Mar 2005
Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC)
Copyright: 2005 Evening Post Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.charleston.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567
Author: Schuyler Kropf
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

S.C. RETAILERS ENLISTED TO HELP IN WAR ON METH

Attorney General Henry McMaster is enlisting retail stores in the war
on methamphetamine, asking them to report any large purchases of the
over-the-counter ingredients needed to make the illegal street drug.
Operation "Meth Watch" encourages retailers to monitor instances of
someone buying large quantities of legal items that, when combined,
can help make "meth," a dangerous and highly addictive stimulant.

Drain cleaner, rock salt, lithium batteries, brake fluid, iodine and
sinus medication are just some of the ingredients that go into the
brew. For about $75, nearly an entire meth lab can be put together
from a single visit to a discount store, police say.

"This meth problem is something I don't think any of us have seen
before," McMaster told about 50 local police and health officials who
gathered Friday at a conference in North Charleston. "Now it's here,
and it's here with a vengeance," he said.

The recently launched "Meth Watch" initiative is similar to efforts
elsewhere across the country. It originated in Kansas. Under the plan,
stores would put up signs, decals and stickers near meth ingredients
warning of their possible illegal use. Limits on purchases also could
be enacted. Other efforts include getting checkout registers to mark
receipts when meth ingredient purchases are made and to have video
cameras trained on aisles where meth ingredients are stocked.

The effort would not target someone who innocently buys meth
ingredient items "unless you buy 19 packages," McMaster said.

"Be assured 'Meth Watch' will have absolutely no impact on your
regular purchases in our store," one of the program's promotional
brochures says. So far, no store or chain has implemented the program.
A spokesman for the South Carolina Merchant Association could not be
reached Friday but in the past has said retailers would support the
program as long as it is uniform and legitimate customers are not
greatly inconvenienced.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin