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Texas Speed



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Texas Speed: Making meth
11/1/2005 4:00 PM
By: James Keith

 
Meth users say it's easier than ever to find a fix.

"Look around. All you have to do is walk to a corner. It's everywhere. It's everywhere. People are cooking it in their trunks, people are cooking it in their apartments. It's a lot worse today than when I first started using it," recovering meth user Debbie said.

A simple search on the Internet turns up a number of Web sites offering ingredients and directions on how to make the drug.

"Methamphetamine can be produced almost anywhere. Not only do we find stationary labs in peoples homes, bathrooms and kitchens but we also find with a lot of frequency, we find mobile meth labs, to where they actually have them cooking in the back of cars," Mark Sawa of the Travis County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit said.

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Photo galleries
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The Texas Department of Public Safety supplied these pictures of meth labs, users and meth-making supplies.

Meth gallery 1
Meth gallery 2

Authorities say cracking down on the sale of meth ingredients is one way to get the problem under control.

A new state law limits the sale of cold medicines and other products containing pseudoephedrine.

"What we've done in Texas, and other states, is make it more difficult for people to buy it in large quantities," U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton said.

Since September, Texans buying products with pseudoephedrine have had to sign for it. The most anyone can buy is two boxes at a time.

"The law first came into effect in Oklahoma, and we saw dramatic drops in meth labs in Oklahoma. Other states have jumped on that bandwagon, Texas is one of them," Sutton said.

Authorities say meth lab busts have been down since the law took effect. There is consideration by national lawmakers to create a federal law restricting pseudoephedrine sales, Sutton said.

So now producers are moving south to get the job done.

 WATCH THE VIDEO
More Information
Making meth

The ingredients used to make meth are readily available in drug and hardware stores.



"With the new law going into effect, we're finding now a lot more of the meth is being produced in Mexico and carried across the border. We're finding more of the finished product than the labs themselves," Lt. Joe Millhouse of the Texas Department of Public Safety's narcotics unit said.

Meth captures along the border have increased.

"We're already seeing large scale confiscation at the border and there is no question in my mind that Mexico is going to take over that production market that we've made more difficult to do in Texas," Sutton said.

But those who make meth in Texas should beware.

"Just in the last month or two, we've had two meth dealers go to prison for over 20 years so the sentences are very high, the stakes are very high, if you're out there possessing or dealing this stuff and we catch you, you're going to the federal pen," Sutton said.

More Information
Online resources
More Information

Central Texas Area Narcotics Anonymous

South Central Texas Area Cocaine Anonymous

Austin Recovery

(512) 821-1730
(800) 373-2081



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Troubled Waters
News 8's Jenna Hiller explored the troubled waters in Central Texas and traveled down the Colorado River in search of information. Click on the links to watch, read and interact.

Part 1: Regional cooperation drying out
Part 2: Texas rice farmer takes on water wars
Part 3: Security of supply saturates perception
Part 4: Bad news travels near and far
Part 5: Bad news travels near and far

Where does your water come from?

Serving the Entire Central Texas Area

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