TOUGH ACTION NEEDED TO GET RID OF METHAMPHETAMINE LABS

The revelation that Missouri is second only to California in the manufacture and use of the illegal drug methamphetamine sounds an alarm that something must be done, and done quickly.

Law enforcement authorities say the drug -- called speed, crank, crystal or meth among those who make and use it -- has become the illicit drug of choice in the area among whites in their 20s and 30s. Regrettably, much of the methamphetamine that is being used in Missouri is made and distributed in Southeast Missouri, and for some reason Mississippi and Butler counties lead in its manufacture.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf, who heads up the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, said the drug wasn't much of a problem locally until about a year ago. Since then, its use has exploded. Authorities have uncovered and shut down 44 meth labs in Southeast Missouri alone over the past year. With that many busts being made in the short course of a year, hard telling how many other labs are operating undetected in the region.

Methamphetamine is a dangerous, addictive drug that can be obtained legally only through a doctor's prescription. Doctors once prescribed methamphetamine pills for weight control, to combat fatigue and to help people under tension improve their work. It quickly produces feelings of joy, strength and alertness, and gives users the capacity to work and talk for long periods of time.

One reason meth has become so popular is that unlike cocaine, heroin or marijuana, it can easily made with a limited knowledge of chemistry and common ingredients obtained at drug and hardware stores.

The growing production and use of methamphetamine in Southeast Missouri can't be tolerated. Prosecutors must insist that stiff penalties be given those who manufacture and use meth, and judges must impose harsh penalties. Such an approach can help Southeast Missouri shed the unwanted image as a methamphetamine center.