Mt. Pleasant Police Department seeing huge upswing in meth cases

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

According to the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the City of Mt. Pleasant can likely expect an uptick in methamphetamine and heroin use, and the Henry County Substance Abuse Coalition is refusing to take this news lightly.

During the Coalition?s latest meeting on Monday afternoon, Mt. Pleasant Police Lieutenant Lyle Murray spoke on the rise of drug use in the county and what the people of Henry County can expect as a result.

?We are seeing a huge upswing in meth cases in the area,? Murray said. ?A lot of people from the Burlington and Ft. Madison area are coming here (Mt. Pleasant) to buy pseudoephedrine pills. While buying these pills is not illegal, we are starting to see entire families coming to Mt. Pleasant to buy pills for use in meth labs.?

On the street, a box of pseudoephedrine pills can be sold for a profit of roughly $50 per box, as it is a crucial ingredient the manufacturing of meth. According to local law enforcement, there seems to be a growing amount of non-drug users buying and selling boxes of pseudoephedrine pills to meth users as simply a way to earn extra cash.

?A lot of people we find doing this type of selling are not using meth. In fact, many don?t even smoke marijuana,? Murray explained. ?It?s just money to them when times are tough.?

Along with this apparent rise in drug use in the county, law enforcement has also reported the presence of firearms to be more prevalent in discovered meth labs and homes where meth is being manufactured. Many of these firearms, according to Murray, have been found in the possession of adults as young as 18 and 19 years of age.

In response to many of these concerns raised by Murray and other law enforcement, the Henry County Substance Abuse Coalition is planning to host a countywide presentation and conversation about risks and facts concerning marijuana use on Wednesday, April 22. Research shows that the use of marijuana is undoubtedly a major gateway drug that often leads to the abuse of more addictive drugs like meth, cocaine and heroin.

The use of marijuana has also been linked to other major health risks and increases the chance of injury or death when used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol.

The presentation, called ?Weeding out the Facts? will take place at the Mt. Pleasant Community High School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and will include speakers from local law enforcement as well as leaders in drug prevention programs across Iowa.

There will be no admission charged and childcare will be provided.

?We want to encourage the public to come and share their thoughts, and how we as a community can address some of these issues,? said Cherry Sandeen, coordinator of Henry County Substance Abuse Coalition.

For more information on the upcoming presentation and conversation, contact Sandeen at 319-385-812 or csandeen@iastate.edu.