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Although new drug laws in Arkansas have caused most of the small labs used to manufacture methamphetamine to go “out of business,” law enforcement officials announced Wednesday at the River Valley Meth Project meeting actual drug use has not decreased.
However, with the help of local businesses, law enforcement, rehabilitation services and other facets of the community involved in the meth project, project leaders believe a change can be made in the number of drug users as well.
Since the “Combat Meth Act of 2005” was enforced early this year, sales of products used to make meth have been restricted, and grants have been more readily available for the education, prevention and treatment of meth-related problems.
But according to Larry Johnson, director of the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the source of the problem may be harder to deal with for local officials.
Johnson explained during Wednesday’s meeting most of the meth found in Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties is now transported from California, Mexico and other border states instead of being manufactured locally. However, he explained local law enforcement does have a remedy.
“The Arkansas State Police will be working heavy on the Interstate (40) in the near future, since it’s all coming from the west,” Johnson explained to the group. “So if you get stopped on the interstate, be prepared to be searched.”
He reminded the group how things have changed since the project group’s first meeting in September 2004.
“When we first started this project, our main concern was the meth labs,” Johnson said. “And now, we find maybe one lab a month. They’re basically gone. ... Of course, we’re still going to have a few, but we just all need to be on the lookout.”
He added, however, a more pure form of meth called “ice” has actually become a bigger problem than actual methamphetamine. He said “ice” can still be made at the user’s home with household products if they have access to meth.
With meth users being caught every day by local law enforcement, it has become the responsibility of the rest of the meth project group to treat those caught and prevent the next generation from making the same mistakes.
Upcoming meetings
* An education group will meet Wednesday to discuss how to take a more proactive approach with high school and college-age students to stop drug abuse. Members will also discuss a possible grant to purchase curriculum.
 *A juvenile punish-ment/rehabilitation group will meet Sept. 10.
 River Valley Meth Project’s next full group meeting will be Sept. 21.
 *A child protection group will host a safe child training course Sept. 22 showing the effects meth has on children exposed to the drug.