Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 Source: Daily Review Atlas (Monmouth, IL) Contact: 2006 Review Atlas Website: http://www.reviewatlas.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4186 Author: Stacey Creasy Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) LOCAL MRTS COMBAT METH EPIDEMIC MONMOUTH - Gov. Rod Blagojevich claims the first year for the Illinois State Police Meth response teams has been a successful one. Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is a drug that provides an intense high. People under the influence of the drug claim they feel like they can do anything. It is also one of the most addictive drugs to hit the streets. Some meth users claim they became hooked on the drug in less than a week. Local and state law enforcement agencies consider methamphetamine to be public enemy number one when it comes to the battle against street drugs. Over the past five years the methamphetamine problem has become the worst drug epidemic in the US. The Meth Response Teams are celebrating their first year anniversary. According to figures from the ISP the meth teams handled 750 meth-related incidents, made 653 arrests and tool nearly 213,000 grams of the drug off the streets. "The dangers associated with meth go well beyond the user," Blagojevich said. "The process of making the drug puts families, neighbors, and even entire communities at risk. We created the Meth Response Teams to help local police fight the spread of meth. The results from the first year are very encouraging, which shows that the Response Teams are making a difference." In 2000 only a handful of meth labs were seized across the state. At the same time 605 people were arrested on meth-related charges. In recent years hundreds of meth labs are seized each year. In 2004, law enforcement agencies arrested 1,264 people on meth charges. Monmouth Police Chief Brad Zeigler said Monmouth was one of, if not the first community to use the response team in this region. Locally the response teams have had an impact, according to Zeigler, who said there were 20 meth-related arrests in Monmouth in 2005. Five meth labs were also seized. "Before that we averaged two to three arrests a year," Zeigler said. "It shot way up there last year. This year we have not had a lab in the city. We have assisted the county on two cases. Either the problem is improving or they (drug manufacturers) have moved elsewhere." Zeigler said his department has worked with the response team six times. "They have worked real well with us," he added. "They have been a big help." Warren County Sheriff Martin Edwards said he has not seen as much activity as last fall, but he knows meth is still a serious problem, one that demands attention from all law enforcement agencies. The meth epidemic has also created problems for retail stores and farmers. Laws have been passed to limit the purchases of over the counter drugs that contain pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, key ingredients in the street drug. Retailers in the Warren County region have scored high in complying with laws to monitor the purchase of medicines with the drug. The epidemic has also created a major problem with meth makers stealing anhydrous ammonia from farmers. The anhydrous ammonia is also an ingredient that is vital in the production of methamphetamine. Another area of public concern is when someone steals anhydrous ammonia and puts that gas in a tank that is not equipped to hold the gas. Thieves often use LP tanks. Police consider the tanks to be a bomb waiting to go off since the tanks are not meant to hold the gas. Local and state law enforcement agencies know the meth problem will likely get worse before there is a continue decrease in the drug. Police departments will continue to use every tool they have, like the response teams to keep up the fight on the front lines. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman