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Battle against meth rages in Missouri
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By Ra'Vae Edwards
redwards@newstribune.com
MORGAN COUNTY, Mo. - Law enforcement officials say the high number of methamphetamine-related incidents reported for 2007 is an indication they actively are fighting the war on meth in Missouri.
Again ranking top in the nation with 1,285 meth-related incidents, reported by 95 of Missouri's 115 counties, some law enforcement officials wonder whether meth actually is a larger problem in Missouri, or if the numbers are higher because law enforcement is proactive in its efforts.
“I think as time goes on some other states will realize they have a problem just like Missouri,” said Morgan County Sheriff Jim Petty.
“It might be that they have the same problem and don't know what to look for, or it might be an issue with manpower. Either way - I guarantee you meth is out there.”
Petty is the director of the Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force based in Morgan County.
Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient needed to manufacture meth.
Although the number of meth incidents has declined since state lawmakers limited the amount of pseudoephedrine that can be purchased in a 30-day time period, investigators say the problem has not gone “away” - it only has shifted.
Petty said the type of investigations required to catch users and distributors has changed greatly, because the drug is being brought into the area rather than manufactured here.
“It has changed the way we investigate. If they're not cooking (meth), there is obviously not a chance of an explosion or someone smelling the odors or seeing the trash from the residue,” Petty said. “Instead, now it is getting it shipped in and we have to rely on information from the public.
“I promise you, meth is still very much available.”
Petty said investigators currently have to travel from pharmacy to pharmacy to gather information indicating who has purchased cold medications containing pseudoephedrine.
“Once we get the logs gathered up each month, then we sit down, sift through them and compare to see who is purchasing their limit using multiple pharmacies - we go knock on their door,” Petty said. “It takes a lot of man hours to do that but it is the only system we have right now.”
State Rep. Kenny Jones, R-Clarksburg, with support from other lawmakers, is sponsoring House Bill 1619, which would require a statewide computer system to track the sale of pseudoephedrine, making it easier for law enforcement and investigators to track suspected drug abusers.
“Right now, we have some meth manufacturers who travel from pharmacy to pharmacy or town to town buying pseudoephedrine, and we do not have a way to track it other than on paper,” Jones said. “A statewide computer system will give law enforcement the tool they need to access that information in a timely manner, to know who these guys are without wasting large amounts of time sifting through paperwork.”
Jones said the system would be set up to raise a flag when a person is entered in the system multiple times, at which time law enforcement would be notified.
If the bill passes and Gov. Matt Blunt signs it into law, it would go into effect Aug. 28.
Again ranking top in the nation with 1,285 meth-related incidents, reported by 95 of Missouri's 115 counties, some law enforcement officials wonder whether meth actually is a larger problem in Missouri, or if the numbers are higher because law enforcement is proactive in its efforts.
“I think as time goes on some other states will realize they have a problem just like Missouri,” said Morgan County Sheriff Jim Petty.
“It might be that they have the same problem and don't know what to look for, or it might be an issue with manpower. Either way - I guarantee you meth is out there.”
Petty is the director of the Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force based in Morgan County.
Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient needed to manufacture meth.
Although the number of meth incidents has declined since state lawmakers limited the amount of pseudoephedrine that can be purchased in a 30-day time period, investigators say the problem has not gone “away” - it only has shifted.
Petty said the type of investigations required to catch users and distributors has changed greatly, because the drug is being brought into the area rather than manufactured here.
“It has changed the way we investigate. If they're not cooking (meth), there is obviously not a chance of an explosion or someone smelling the odors or seeing the trash from the residue,” Petty said. “Instead, now it is getting it shipped in and we have to rely on information from the public.
“I promise you, meth is still very much available.”
Petty said investigators currently have to travel from pharmacy to pharmacy to gather information indicating who has purchased cold medications containing pseudoephedrine.
“Once we get the logs gathered up each month, then we sit down, sift through them and compare to see who is purchasing their limit using multiple pharmacies - we go knock on their door,” Petty said. “It takes a lot of man hours to do that but it is the only system we have right now.”
State Rep. Kenny Jones, R-Clarksburg, with support from other lawmakers, is sponsoring House Bill 1619, which would require a statewide computer system to track the sale of pseudoephedrine, making it easier for law enforcement and investigators to track suspected drug abusers.
“Right now, we have some meth manufacturers who travel from pharmacy to pharmacy or town to town buying pseudoephedrine, and we do not have a way to track it other than on paper,” Jones said. “A statewide computer system will give law enforcement the tool they need to access that information in a timely manner, to know who these guys are without wasting large amounts of time sifting through paperwork.”
Jones said the system would be set up to raise a flag when a person is entered in the system multiple times, at which time law enforcement would be notified.
If the bill passes and Gov. Matt Blunt signs it into law, it would go into effect Aug. 28.
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