Deputies, public battle local 'methademic'

By Sara StrongRock County Sheriff Mike Winkels said the battle against methamphetamine is a part of his every day work. Whether someone calls a dispatcher about suspicious activity, or a deputy and investigator compare notes, meth is much more than a loose topic."People are talking about it all the time — that’s the important thing, that people are more aware," Winkels said.The awareness appears to be countywide, not just in his office.Retailers let the Sheriff’s Department know about suspicious purchases and the general public reports quick stops at certain homes — adding up to many eyes and ears working for the sheriff."The public in the last couple years has really been affected and they know about it," Winkels said.County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "Law enforcement has done an effective job in making these arrests. Per capita, we’re near the top in our ability to make arrests."When asked whether department dog Tarzan should get credit, Winkels said, "If I have to attribute it to anything, I have to attribute it to the public. A couple years ago we had a big push for the public to be involved — and they’re doing it."He said people in all age groups are concerned about the drug problem.Its devastating side effects are felt in many families, and almost everyone knows of a user or past user. One mother of an addict previously told the Star Herald, "It’s a mean drug. I think it’s the Devil."Counting the costEven if there wasn’t a human element, the county is concerned about meth because of its monetary cost.Ten meth labs in just two years had to be cleaned and property reclaimed, and numerous possession cases had to make it through the court system, usually with a public defender.Meth users typically cost the county more than the standard $55 a day for jail costs, because they often require more medical, dental, nursing and psychiatric services.Many of those services are picked up by public agencies long after a meth user is out of jail.Costs such as children in Social Services, and medical costs are difficult to tally over a lifetime. Many related social problems can’t be calculated. Winkels said the trend for meth manufacture and use spreading to rural areas doesn’t seem to be subsiding. "They can rent houses really cheap, and the nearest neighbor isn’t for a mile or more," Winkels said. The southwest region of Minnesota is seeing similar counts of meth labs as other areas of the state.Meth labs in the immediate area through the past five years are: Cottonwood, 0; Jackson, 2; Lincoln, 6; Lyon, 12; Martin, 4; Murray, 5; Nobles, 2; Pipestone, 2; Redwood, 3, and Rock, 10.These numbers of reported labs include large anhydrous ammonia thefts, because it assumes those thefts went toward manufacturing the drug.There are a few stand-out counties with high numbers of labs throughout the past five years: Anoka had 82; Chisago had 67, and Olmsted had 77.The drug itselfMethamphetamine, or speed, is common in the Midwest after rapidly gaining popularity across the country.It is a stimulant that sends a message to the brain to produce more dopamine. Hours after ingestion, the feel-good chemical, dopamine, isn’t turned back on, and the brain wants more meth to pick up the slack. Other drugs considered to be heavy stimulants allow the brain to repackage the dopamine, but methamphetamine doesn’t. Instead, the brain cells release another enzyme that diminishes the dopamine and kills it off for a long time. With repeated meth use, there is a chemical change in the brain that lasts a long time and can create a violent, irritable person incapable of feeling happiness or having fun, even after the meth use stops.Many people are on medications for lifelong mental and emotional problems brought on by meth.Methamphetamine can be smoked, inhaled or injected. Symptoms of use:
increased alertness
paranoia
hallucinations
aggressive behavior
violent behavior
loss of appetite
acne or sores
depression
convulsions
severe weight loss
putrid body odor
open sores on the skin
liver damage
stroke or heart attackMeth is made from:
lantern fuel
drain cleaner
battery acid
cold tablets
rock salt
sulfuric and muriatic acidSheriff Winkels said that meth manufacturers are continually finding faster, more efficient means to make the drug. What used to take several steps, can be done by some in less than an hour. Winkels said anhydrous ammonia is being substituted by other chemicals in some recent formulas.If anything should be known by the public at this point, Winkels said, it’s that people shouldn’t be under the false impression that large or recent arrests are curbing use. "It’s a daily concern for us, and it hasn’t gone down," Winkels said.