Local meth labs diminishing

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Story Published: Feb 12, 2008 at 9:12 AM PST

By Dan Bain

Local drug officers say Oregon's efforts to suppress home-grown methamphetamine labs are paying off, although outside suppliers have stepped in to fill the demand.

Oregon laws clamped down on the distribution of Pseudo-Ephedrine,
used by many labs as a methamphetamine precursor. It's sold behind the counter, and now only by prescription.

Curt Strickland, the commander for the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team says the new laws have had a huge effect on meth labs in this county.

"In Douglas County in the year 2000 we had 29 meth labs, and a couple of years before that we were right at 32. Now we're down all the way to basically, we had two a couple of years ago, we didn't have any last year and so far this year we haven't had any."

Strickland says the labs have dried up, but the meth still makes its way here from Mexico.

"We still have methamphetamine supply that's probably just as great as it was before. It's just a different transport system and a different manufacture system. There is a big benefit in that we don't have to deal with the after effects of the meth labs here in our county."

Strickland says the dumpsites, trashed motel rooms and just general damage to people's property from the labs has diminished.

Other chemicals have been regulated as well. Iodine can be purchased at farm stores, but to do so you have to show some identification and
explain why you need it.

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