Methamphetamine is the fastest growing drug threat in the United States today. It is a nervous system stimulant similar to cocaine, but is much stronger than cocaine. It can be produced in a small, transportable laboratory, using ingredients easily purchased in retail stores. While methamphetamine use and production has decimated states throughout the west and mid-west, its use has remained relatively low in New Hampshire. However, in the last two years, law enforcement has uncovered approximately fifteen methamphetamine labs throughout the state. In January 2006, labs were discovered in Plymouth, Grafton and Manchester.

Methamphetamine production has been on the rise mainly because recipes can be found on the internet, the ingredients are readily available and there is a significant profit margin for selling this drug. Cold tablets containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the central ingredients to producing methamphetamine. The other ingredients used to produce the drug are highly toxic. They include lye, brake cleaner, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, muriatic acid, drain cleaner, ether, camping fuel, ammonia, lithium batteries and paint thinner. The production of methamphetamine can occur in houses, hotel rooms and even cars. For every pound of methamphetamine that is produced there is also approximately five pounds of toxic waste produced. This waste, when dumped, causes environmental hazards including ground and water contamination. Cleanup for one methamphetamine lab site can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Also, because of the volatile nature of the chemicals being mixed, there is a great likelihood of explosion and/or fire.

This highly addictive drug will cause a user to rapidly lose weight; to become very pale because blood vessels at the skin’s surface are constructed; to sweat, causing the emission of a putrid smell because of the chemicals ingested; to have bad teeth; and to have open sores on exposed skin.

Children who are in the presence of a methamphetamine lab are at increased risk for: acid burns, low self esteem, immunization delay, poor social skills, cognitive disabilities, poor hygiene, respiratory problems and malnutrition. Some signs that a child is being exposed to a methamphetamine lab include: watery eyes, blurred vision, skin irritation, burns on the skin, sneezing and coughing, chest pain, nausea, headache, fever and severe neglect.

It is only through public awareness that the use and production of this lethal drug can be curbed before it can take a devastating grip on New Hampshire. If anyone is aware of a methamphetamine lab, they should immediately report their suspicion to the Drug Enforcement Administration at (603) 225-1574.

With Prom and Graduation season here again, we all must think about ways to help make those events both safe and alcohol free. One such idea, I have seen recently, comes from the Century Council. Through the use of the Century Council website, you can send a Text Message to a loved one attending a Prom or Graduation to serve as a simple reminder that you are thinking of them and hoping they have a safe and alcohol free Prom or Graduation.

Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte wants to keep New Hampshire's Children Safe. Help protect your children when they use the Internet by following these online safety practices:

• Talk to your children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.
• Keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
• If children use chat or E-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first "met" online.
• Let children show you what they can do online, and visit their favorite sites.
• Internet accounts should be in the parent's name with parents having the primary screenname and controlling the passwords.
• Children should not complete a profile for a service provider and children's screennames should be nondescript so as not to identify that the user is a child.
• Consider using filtering or monitoring software that only allows a child to access a preapproved list of sites.
• Create your own computer rules or print the Internet safety pledge. Sign the pledge with your kids. Regularly remind your children of their pledge to stay safe when online.
• If you suspect online "stalking" or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law-enforcement agency.

The Attorney General's New Hampshire Cyber Crime Initiative brings together law enforcement officers from local, county, State, and federal law enforcement agencies with training and support from the University of New Hampshire's JusticeWorks and the Police Standards and Training Council. Attorney General Ayotte is leading this law enforcement effort to ensure that those who prey on our children through the internet are detected and prosecuted.