he filthy, abandoned trailer near Arlington had attracted the attention of neighbors. I approached cautiously, along with a couple of other state troopers and a sheriff’s deputy. We opened the door to the trailer and peered into the shadows. In almost three decades of law enforcement, I had rarely seen such a frightening mess. We found 55-gallon drums and five-gallon buckets filled with flammable, corrosive chemicals. Rusted cooking stoves littered the place. The stench of toxic fumes filled the air.
We had found a meth lab.
The horrors of methamphetamine use have been reported time and again. It’s a cheap, highly addictive stimulant known on the street by many names, such as "speed," "crank" or "crystal." It destroys lives and tears families apart. It frequently leads to other crimes such as child abuse, domestic violence and theft. And meth manufacturers often dump their dangerous chemicals along roads, in camping areas and in dumpsters.
Citizens for a Safe Snohomish County, a nonpartisan, volunteer study group, finds our methamphetamine crisis to be "the single most compelling public safety issue threatening our community." Statistics seem to support that claim. Washington now ranks third in the nation, after Missouri and California, in the seizure of meth labs. And our sheriff’s office reports that two-thirds of the crimes committed in Snohomish County can be linked to meth.
So what’s being done? A number of significant efforts are worth noting:
Sheriff Rick Bart has taken the lead to bust meth labs and arrest those trying to illegally obtain chemicals or precursor drugs needed to make methamphetamine.
County Prosecutor Janice Ellis’ office is aggressively prosecuting meth offenders, and has implemented a procedure to abate drug houses.
Drug Court is proving to be a very successful, cost-effective alternative to incarceration for many drug offenders. Drug Court clients are offered treatment, and charges are dismissed if the treatment program is completed.
The county has sponsored two Youth Meth Summits for middle and high school students to focus on education, prevention and treatment.
The Legislature has passed laws to restrict the sales of ephedrine, anhydrous ammonia and other ingredients needed to "cook" meth. Another new law adds extra penalties for meth manufacturers who expose children under 18 to the dangerous environment of a meth lab.
The county’s Division of Alcohol and Other Drugs is actively educating the community on how to identify and respond to meth labs.
A growing number of community groups are working hard to solve the meth problem, including Citizens for a Safe Snohomish County, Families for Kids, Lead On America and the Snohomish County Methamphetamine Action Team.
To all of these folks I say, keep up the good work! Perseverance is key to beating our meth crisis.
But enthusiastic support isn’t enough. We need to put our money where our mouth is.
Unfortunately, federal spending to fight meth in Washington has been reduced by 25 percent this year, as those dollars are diverted to tax cuts and the war in Iraq. That is why I intend to propose that an additional $5 million in state funds be allocated to fighting meth in our communities.
I’ll be honest. It won’t be easy to find $5 million in what promises to be another very tight budget year, but I’m going to do my best.
Meth is an equal-opportunity destroyer. It does not care if you are male or female, young or old, Democrat or Republican. That is why we must all unite in a community-based, bipartisan effort to beat this crisis, and keep fighting until the battle is won.
State Rep. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) is a member of the Criminal Justice &Corrections, Judiciary, and Transportation committees. Lovick represents the 44th District, which includes Mill Creek, Snohomish, Lake Stevens and parts of Everett and Marysville. In addition to serving in the Legislature, Lovick is a sergeant with the Washington State Patrol.
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