Retailers help cops combat meth

Michigan retailers’ participation in law enforcement’s battle against the local production of the dangerous and highly addictive drug methamphetamine (meth) appears to be paying off.

Meth production in the state is down sharply this year, according to Detective Lieutenant Tony Saucedo, unit commander of the Michigan State Police Methamphetamine Investigation Team. There were 150 meth lab-related incidents (lab seizures and incidents related to the production of meth) as of August 8, compared to 344 for all of 2005, he said. Sixty two labs have been seized this year, compared to well over 100 at this point last year.

Officials say that while many factors may have contributed to this decline, including an increased supply of the drug imported from Mexico, a contributing factor is retailers’ active cooperation with law enforcement to identify suspicious purchases of the products used by “meth cooks.”

“Michigan retailers have played a valuable role in Michigan’s efforts to meth-related activities,” said Donald Allen, director of the Office of Drug Control Policy in the Michigan Department of Community Health, in a letter to Michigan Retailers Association (see letter below).

Retailers’ role
How are retailers helping?

First, they are complying with the recently enacted state law restricting and regulating the sale of the most common products used in meth labs: cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. No longer can meth cooks buy large volumes of this primary ingredient used in the process.

Second, retailers in several counties are participating in Michigan Meth Watch, a voluntary program designed to help retailers limit the theft and suspicious sales of cold medicines and other common household products used to produce meth.

A pilot program, funded by a grant from the national Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and administered by the state’s Office of Drug Control Policy, started Michigan Meth Watch in 2005. The program targeted 14 Michigan counties: Allegan, Barry, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Monroe, St. Joseph and Van Buren.

Michigan Retailers Association helped get the pilot off the ground by obtaining a state grant to hire retired State Police public affairs director David VerHougstraete as Michigan Meth Watch community liaison coordinator and providing him with an office and other resources at MRA headquarters in Lansing.

“A key goal of the Meth Watch Program is to promote cooperation between retailers and law enforcement in preventing the diversion of legitimate products for the illegal production of methamphetamine,” said Verhougstraete.

In addition to complying with state law regarding pseudoephedrine sales, participating retailers strategically post Meth Watch signs, decals and tags on their doors and windows, around their cash registers and on the shelves where products used in meth labs are located.

The Meth Watch program also makes training available to retailers. Employees are taught how to recognize suspicious purchases, deter the theft of products used in meth labs and contact law enforcement with critical identification information.

Det. Saucedo sees the role of retailers as critical. He said he has personally used tips from retailers that led to the shutdown of dangerous labs.

The logs that retailers are now required by law to use to record purchases of restricted products also have been helpful in confirming suspicious activity, according to Saucedo.

CHPA, which funds the program in Michigan and 18 other states, claims that the program has aided meth lab seizures, hampered meth production and decreased pseudoephedrine product losses by retailers across the country.

“Nationally, retailers participating in the Meth Watch program report safer stores, better customer relations, increased employee awareness and improved communications with law enforcement. Many stores have experienced a decrease in loss from theft that is directly related to their participation in Meth Watch,” said CHPA spokesperson Elizabeth Assey.

Meth lab busts nationwide plummeted more than 30 percent last year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration attributes most of the drop to restrictions on the sale of over-the-counter cold medicines.

Success
The two-year pilot will end on September 30. But the Office of Drug Control Policy will continue the program, making the materials and training available to retailers across the state, with efforts coordinated by county and regional substance abuse prevention programs.

“The pilot was clearly a success,” said VerHougstraete, “with many retailers receiving information, materials and training.”

Liz Lenz, with Barry County Substance Abuse Prevention, is a Meth Watch coordinator. Together with representatives from the county prosecutor’s office, sheriff’s office and health department, Lenz went door-to-door to retailers in Barry County to distribute materials, explain what retailers can do and answer questions.

“Everyone accepted the materials. They were very receptive to the program and interested in learning more about the problem of meth,” said Lenz. “They are sometimes surprised to find out that it’s not just cold medicines but camping fuel, lithium batteries and other seemingly ordinary products, bought in bulk or in suspicious combinations, that they should be watching for.”

Lenz said some smaller retailers have decided to carry only cold medicines that contain no pseudoephedrine.

“All in all, retailers were glad to learn what to do and how they can partner with law enforcement,” said Lenz.

Dave Jasperse, pharmacist and owner of Bosley Pharmacy in Hastings, was one of the first to join Michigan Meth Watch. His store has displayed the signs and stickers and used the shelf tags for almost two years.

“Customers accept the program and the new law,” said Jasperse. “They may think it’s a shame that we have to do this, but there have been no complaints.”

Jasperse hasn’t seen any suspicious behavior. That’s one of the goals of the program—to deter would-be thieves or illicit purchases.

Materials
Although the pilot program funding is ending, all Meth Watch artwork and message materials developed through the grant program are available to any retailer, according to VerHougstraete.

“Communities outside the pilot program area that are interested may also use the community-oriented materials and ideas, and should work with their county health department or our office in establishing a local program,” said Nancy Bennett, who oversees the program for the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Information about the program and contacts for every county in the state are available at the program’s website, ww.michiganmethwatch.org. The site also has information on the overall meth problem.

Also, a DVD aimed at retailers briefly explains the Meth Watch program. Call MRA’s Amy Buttery at 800.366.3699 for a copy.