Meth Stats

Progress report on Pierce County's meth situation:

• Tacoma Police increased its meth lab shut down rate, dismantling 142 labs in 2002.  The department shut down 134 labs in 2001.
• In Pierce County, the Pierce County Meth Enforcement Team shut down 96 meth labs in 2002, a 45 percent decrease from last year.  Like investigators throughout the state, the team is now concentrating on the people who cook the chemicals and the sale of precursor products rather than end users, which accounts for the drop.
• The Washington State patrol investigated 223 labs in 2002, 120 less than in 2001.
• The law enforcement shift to a crack down on precursors used to cook meth has allowed police to follow up on tips and launch investigations - a more proactive strategy.
• The Sheriff's department made 21 arrests during proactive  investigations in 2002, up from 18 in 2001, and Tacoma Police arrested 17 people and busted six active labs.  Washington State Patrol worked 50 meth cases.

"Community organizing through Safe Streets plays a critical role in putting the meth cooks out of business," says Alisa O' Hanlon, community programs director.  " Thanks to law enforcement and neighbors working together, we're identifying meth labs left and right and meth cooks are realizing this is a community not to do business in," she says.