News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 11, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke assigns more Guard members to fight meth lab epidemic

OLYMPIA - More members of the Washington National Guard are being assigned to stop the production and use of methamphetamine in the state, Gov. Gary Locke announced today.

"Methamphetamine is a deadly threat to the people of our state," Locke said, "I've directed the National Guard to give these dangerous drugs top priority in its Counter Drug Program and to work with law enforcement agencies across the state. These drugs threaten every community."

Seven Guard members will join the six assigned by the governor in May to the anti-meth campaign.

Here's how the seven will be assigned:

Three will help the Washington State Patrol provide information and training to utility workers, emergency medical personnel and others who may encounter methamphetamine production labs in their work.

Two will join two Guard members already working with the Washington State Department of Ecology to help contain and removal toxic chemicals found at meth labs.

Two will join the four Guard members already working with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office as it establishes a locally funded meth lab response team.

Approximately 40 percent of the state's meth labs found in Washington are in Pierce County.

In addition to the seven Guard members assigned to the drug work today, Locke said other members will be assigned to help the State Patrol, interagency drug task forces and other law enforcement agencies on a mission-by-mission basis.

The Guard's federally funded Counter Drug Program currently helps 40 federal, state and local enforcement agencies across the state. Its Guard members dress in civilian clothes and do not carry weapons or make arrests. They work under the supervision of the agencies to which they are assigned, performing support duties so agency staffs can concentrate on their law enforcement and cleanup responsibilities.

"I've ordered this additional help for our police to help stem the growth of an epidemic," Locke said. "In 1995, there were 54 meth labs found statewide. They grew to 789 in 1999 and 670 have been discovered in just the first six months of this year."

Methamphetamine can be manufactured from chemicals readily available in retail stores. Producing it creates serious risks of fire, explosion and exposure to toxic chemicals. Meth users easily can become addicted. The drug's effects include paranoia, delusions and violence.

In recent years, Locke and the Legislature have increased funding for the State Patrol and Ecology to respond to meth labs, more than doubled prison sentences for manufacturing the drug and classified possession of specific chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine as a felony.

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