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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — Western Wisconsin has seen a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use.
The Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1FvnEK5 ) reports the number of meth cases seen by the state's crime lab tripled from 2008 to 2014. The lab processed 920 meth cases in 2014, with most concentrated in the western part of the state.
Officials aren't sure what's behind the big jump in meth use. But they say the drugs come from Mexico and are picked up in the Twin Cities before heading to western Wisconsin. The drug scene in eastern Wisconsin is dominated by heroin from Chicago.
Governments have clamped down on meth in the past decade, passing laws to hinder homegrown production from pseudoephedrine. Wisconsin saw an "all-hands-on-deck approach" to meth with a lot of political pressure on enforcement, said Eau Claire Police Sgt. Andrew Falk, who heads a drug task force in six counties.
But more and purer meth has since come from Mexican cartels. Pat Isenberger, drug court coordinator in Eau Claire County, said court participants tell him meth prices have fallen and that it's easy to find.
Eau Claire police say they arrested 20 people in a major meth ring in June, with the ringleader sentenced to six years in prison. Douglas County authorities are still investigating a case involving a dealer sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The number of meth users at the drug court has gone up, Isenberger said. It was just two of 30 court participants in 2010, but it's up to 12 people now.
"We've never seen this high number of meth addicts," Isenberger said.
Officials say meth addiction requires intensive treatment, and it can lead to other crimes as users look for cash for drugs. Meth is more common in rural areas.
Eau Claire County has formed a committee made up of law officials, drug counselors and human services employees to study meth use.
"We're not satisfied with the traditional approaches that have been taken," Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King said.
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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