Pubdate: Sun, 15 Jan 2006
Source: Sampson Independent, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006, The Sampson Independent
Contact:  http://www.clintonnc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1704
Author: Chris Berendt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DUPLIN METH PROBLEMS PERSIST AS IN SAMPSON

Just as in Sampson, the presence of methamphetamine in Duplin County
is becoming a growing trend, the results of which can act to tear
communities apart and destroy families. Those who question the harsh
realities of the drug's use and manufacture need only to visit the
Duplin County jail.

There were four confirmed methamphetamine labs discovered in Duplin
County during 2005, but all of the components of a lab were found in
several other instances, the sheriff said.

"We had other locations not deemed as labs, but all the components
were there," he said.

And the jail cells act as revolving doors for users who were once
"regular" people, but are now in trouble for a variety of
circumstances.

"People who think using methamphetamine is a victimless crime, they
need to come to our jail," said Wallace. "It is a prevalent issue
here. Certainly we're seeing a growth in Duplin County. I do believe
it's a growing problem and continues to grow."

The sheriff said that he was confronted with one particular case
recently in which a man tried methamphetamine and became hooked. He
shunned his wife and children, moving from the home and into an out
building near the residence, where he could focus on the new love of
his life -- the drug.

The man, who the sheriff said owned a small business and was a
"productive citizen," isolated himself and had nothing to do with his
children, he said.

"If you're a child, how do you overcome that," Wallace said. "It's
terrible."

The drug makes its user "asocial." The person becomes paranoid and
stays up days on end, until crashing for just as long.

"It just takes control of their lives," said Wallace.

He said that the community has become more aware of the drug and its
affects on users. The Sheriff's Office has received more and more
calls of possible meth activity as citizens have educated themselves
through the Internet and print media, said the sheriff, who urged
residents to keep calling suspicious activity into the office.

Whether breaking and entering, larceny, domestic violence, assault or
other crimes, "90 percent of crimes we deal with are drug-related,"
said Wallace. "It's the root of all evil."

"People never think they'll become addicted and they do," said
Wallace. It can take only one try before a methamphetamine user starts
the downward spiral into addiction, where they are willing to do
anything for the drug, he said.

"Anything we can do in law enforcement to help one person from trying,
we're going to do that," he said.

The sheriff said that the battle against methamphetamine in Duplin
County is a three-pronged one. The three key components are continued
education, continued enforcement and assistance from the community.

Citizens need to be "willing to step up and report" suspicious
activity so the proper authorities can respond, the sheriff said.

Steps have been taken through state legislation, effective next week,
that will take cold medications used in methamphetamine's manufacture
behind the counter. That may curb some of the manufacturing of the
drug, but users will likely find "another avenue," such as bringing
the ingredients in from outside the state to produce the drug, Wallace
said.

Those people who think that methamphetamine is not a problem in their
community may, down the line, fall victim to a crime because the
perpetrator is trying to find money or some item that they can sell
for meth. A person they know, who maybe owned a business or was
considered an upstanding citizen, could find themselves hooked on the
highly addictive drug.

"Somebody in your family's going to be affected at some point," said
Wallace. "It's devastating to see what the drug can do."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin