Meth labs plummet since law enacted, sheriff says

The new law limiting the sale of ephedrine has had an immediate impact on reducing the frequency of meth production, as officers say the number of labs have fallen to their lowest level in years.

However, according to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, lawmen fear the drop is only temporary because demand has not dropped.

“They’re doing different things now, trying to make a byproduct of the drug,” said Matheny. “It’s down for now, but we’re suspecting this may be short term.”

The reduction has been dramatic, Matheny noted, as around 60 meth labs have been found in Warren County this year. However, only 12 of those have been found since the law restricting over-the-counter sales of ephedrine, an essential ingredient needed to make meth, went into effect April 1. Of those 12, most were found within a month of the new law, meaning ephedrine bought under the old law was likely used.

“There’s no doubt the new law has helped,” Matheny said. “It has caused an obvious decrease in labs and it did it quickly.”

While happy for the reduction, Matheny said simply making ephedrine harder to get does not take away what was and remains, a very serious local meth problem.

“Some of them are going over to Alabama and Georgia to buy their components,” said Matheny, noting local people have been busted in Alabama recently trying to buy meth-making materials. “If they can’t get it here, then they will travel to other states to get what they need or make other arrangements to get it.”

Matheny said lawmen are also hearing meth-makers may be changing the recipe to make a similar drug, one that does not rely on ephedrine or psuedoephedrine.

Given the temporary lull in meth making, Matheny said the best way to reduce the drug in the long term is to reduce the demand since demand will almost always lead to a supply coming from somewhere.