Meth Numbers Up Slightly
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Craig Brosman-
Statistics released by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force show that from January 2010 to Nov. 15, 2010, there were 38 meth labs found and 66 meth-related arrests. From January 2011 to Nov. 15, 2011, there were 39 meth labs detected and 71 meth-related arrests.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. Captain Aaron Rovenstine said the statistics show that meth-related activity has flatlined from 2010 to 2011.
“They seem to be pretty even,” Rovenstine said. “It is hard to speculate what next year’s statistics will be, but hopefully it drops next year.”
Rovenstine explained that several years ago the county thought they had a good handle on the meth situation, but later found out it was a bit of false security.
“When we locked up all of the anhydrous ammonia, the number of meth-related calls and arrests sharply declined,” Rovenstine said. “Then they found other ingredients and that number shot up again.”
With the invention of the one-pot meth lab that can be a fully mobile drug lab, the importance of patrol units in the fight against meth has increased. One-pot labs are meth labs that can be contained to a single plastic soda bottle.
“Prior to the use of one-pot labs, the production of meth was stationary,” Rovenstine said. “With one-pots it is more important that our patrolmen look out for meth because it has become more mobile.”
Statewide, according to the Indiana State Police statistics, the number of one-pot meth labs has increased significantly from 2010 to 2011.
In 2010, 37 percent, or 431, of the labs found were one-pot labs, whereas 61 percent, or 821, were cooked in the house.
In 2011, 73 percent, or 739, of the labs found at the end of September were one-pots, whereas 37 percent, or 243, were cooked in a house.
The Kosciusko County DTF has not changed the way it looks for meth labs. Instead, they have continued to attack the issue very aggressively through education. There have been multiple meth workshops held in conjunction with the Meth Awareness Partnership that were aimed at educating the public on the effects of meth.
“I think our guys are doing a great job. It is hard to tell how much meth is out there, we may just be scratching the surface, but we are making a lot of arrests and busts and the community has been great,” Rovenstine said. “It is a priority for us.”
In the last few years Kosciusko County has ranked among the counties with the most meth-related incidents, Rovenstine said.
Newly elected mayor Joe Thallemer has asked pharmacies in Warsaw to voluntarily make Pseudoephedrine, or Sudafed a prescription drug to help fight the meth problem in Warsaw. So far, Zale Drugs and Pill Box Pharmacy have agreed to pull Sudafed off the shelves and make it a prescription.
“I think that’s great,” Rovenstine said. “If they voluntarily want to change I think it makes legislation not needed. Any effort would be beneficial. It is a good symbolic gesture that shows the community they care.”
Rovenstine also commended the community for its vigilant fight against meth in the county.
“If someone finds precursors to meth or meth they should not touch it and immediately contact law enforcement,” Rovenstine said. “The community has been great so far when it comes to alerting us to meth. Most of our tips come from the community.”[[In-content Ad]]
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Statistics released by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force show that from January 2010 to Nov. 15, 2010, there were 38 meth labs found and 66 meth-related arrests. From January 2011 to Nov. 15, 2011, there were 39 meth labs detected and 71 meth-related arrests.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. Captain Aaron Rovenstine said the statistics show that meth-related activity has flatlined from 2010 to 2011.
“They seem to be pretty even,” Rovenstine said. “It is hard to speculate what next year’s statistics will be, but hopefully it drops next year.”
Rovenstine explained that several years ago the county thought they had a good handle on the meth situation, but later found out it was a bit of false security.
“When we locked up all of the anhydrous ammonia, the number of meth-related calls and arrests sharply declined,” Rovenstine said. “Then they found other ingredients and that number shot up again.”
With the invention of the one-pot meth lab that can be a fully mobile drug lab, the importance of patrol units in the fight against meth has increased. One-pot labs are meth labs that can be contained to a single plastic soda bottle.
“Prior to the use of one-pot labs, the production of meth was stationary,” Rovenstine said. “With one-pots it is more important that our patrolmen look out for meth because it has become more mobile.”
Statewide, according to the Indiana State Police statistics, the number of one-pot meth labs has increased significantly from 2010 to 2011.
In 2010, 37 percent, or 431, of the labs found were one-pot labs, whereas 61 percent, or 821, were cooked in the house.
In 2011, 73 percent, or 739, of the labs found at the end of September were one-pots, whereas 37 percent, or 243, were cooked in a house.
The Kosciusko County DTF has not changed the way it looks for meth labs. Instead, they have continued to attack the issue very aggressively through education. There have been multiple meth workshops held in conjunction with the Meth Awareness Partnership that were aimed at educating the public on the effects of meth.
“I think our guys are doing a great job. It is hard to tell how much meth is out there, we may just be scratching the surface, but we are making a lot of arrests and busts and the community has been great,” Rovenstine said. “It is a priority for us.”
In the last few years Kosciusko County has ranked among the counties with the most meth-related incidents, Rovenstine said.
Newly elected mayor Joe Thallemer has asked pharmacies in Warsaw to voluntarily make Pseudoephedrine, or Sudafed a prescription drug to help fight the meth problem in Warsaw. So far, Zale Drugs and Pill Box Pharmacy have agreed to pull Sudafed off the shelves and make it a prescription.
“I think that’s great,” Rovenstine said. “If they voluntarily want to change I think it makes legislation not needed. Any effort would be beneficial. It is a good symbolic gesture that shows the community they care.”
Rovenstine also commended the community for its vigilant fight against meth in the county.
“If someone finds precursors to meth or meth they should not touch it and immediately contact law enforcement,” Rovenstine said. “The community has been great so far when it comes to alerting us to meth. Most of our tips come from the community.”[[In-content Ad]]
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