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.

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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman