Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jan 2008
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2008 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayobserver.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Corey G. Johnson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METHODIST PROGRAM TO BATTLE METH LABS

Congress has awarded Methodist University nearly $400,000 in federal 
money to develop a program to teach people to detect and destroy 
illegal methamphetamine labs.

The labs are a growing problem in North Carolina, particularly in 
some of the rural counties around Fayetteville.

The money for the Methodist program is an earmark in the omnibus 
spending bill Congress approved just before Christmas.

Methodist officials said they will use the money -- $399,500 -- to 
buy equipment for the Methamphetamine Education Training Project. The 
program's goal is to provide training for police and others how to 
identify and handle the volatile chemicals that are associated with 
meth labs. The chemicals are an explosive threat and can release 
toxic fumes. And the waste products of meth production are an 
environmental hazard. Methodist officials are scheduled to meet 
Thursday to discuss the grant and to develop the next steps for the 
program, university spokeswoman Melissa Jameson said.

Four Methodist professors in criminal justice, chemistry and 
environmental management programs are developing the training.

"Our faculty members are developing this training program in response 
to the needs of the local community and the state of North Carolina 
to increase advanced technology used in the field," University 
President Elton Hendricks said. Methodist's program comes as more 
meth labs are popping up near Cumberland County. According to 
December statistics from the State Bureau of Investigation, 41 
counties reported meth labs last year. Two counties that border 
Cumberland -- Harnett, with 13, and Sampson, with nine -- are second 
and fourth, respectively, in the number of labs in the state. 
Cumberland County had two labs in 2007, SBI statistics show.

Debbie Tanna, spokeswoman for the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, 
said meth's addictive qualities and toxic vapors made the drug 
dangerous. She said that investigators have learned that some meth 
sellers are forgoing the traditional meth lab production and are 
producing and selling the drug from the back of vehicles, posing a 
new challenge for investigators. 
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