Perhaps the Hoosier State should change its name to the Methamphetamine State, after the release of 2009 statistics. According to this article in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Indiana shows a 25% increase in the number of methamphetamine labs as compared to 2008.
Indiana State Police report a total of 1343 meth labs throughout the State, with the highest concentration in the Northeast. This comports with local myth, despite the fact that previous to 2008, the most labs were discovered along the state line between central Indiana and central Illinois, with the highest concentration in Vigo County, Indiana.
The article points out that these labs are concentrated in areas with high industrial and factory workers, and a recent trend shows more labs using the “one-pot” method and fewer large-scale ones. This is a sign that users are going to more practical production methods to cater to their own individual habits and those contributing to the overall effort, rather than larger scale production for sale.
One thing is for sure: we have a huge problem on our hands here in Indiana. A cheap, highly addictive, dangerous substance which is relatively easy to produce, and an insatiable market. As I mentioned in an NWI Lawyer article dated January 3, a new system purports to work smarter, not harder. Hopefully the new law can address this statewide pandemic.
Suggestions!?