Minn. health report shows dip in meth labs
A study of methamphetamine trends in Minnesota shows declines in the number of drug labs and arrests tied to the stimulant.
The report by a drug policy office within the Minnesota Department of Health documents several measures of progress in the fight against meth.
Since documenting 497 meth labs in 2003, the agency says there were 35 known labs last year. Meth related arrests have also fallen since their peak earlier in the decade. The category of illicit drugs that includes meth saw just shy of 3,900 arrests in 2006, down noticeably from the three years before.
Authors of the report pointed to efforts to choke off a key ingredient of the drug by putting certain cold medicine behind store counters. They also cited laws allowing for more aggressive prosecution of meth offenders.
The report gives recommendations for more anti-meth measures, including expanded drug offender treatment and added intervention for at-risk children.
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