Domestic meth production down, but imports increase

ST. LOUIS — The manufacture of methamphetamine is sharply down in certain Midwestern states that have had the most trouble with the drug over the years, but it remains as popular as ever with users because of an influx of cheap Mexican imports, according to experts.

The Drug Enforcement Administration doesn’t provide partial-year data on meth lab seizures, but drug fighters in several states that generally register the most meth lab busts say they’ve seen a startling decline.

“What we’re hearing throughout the Midwest from our colleagues is they’re all seeing meth labs drop, but it’s critical to note that no state is saying meth use is down,” said Mark Woodward of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

The problem got so bad that restrictions were placed on the sale of cold and allergy pills containing pseudoephedrine, which gets mixed with household products like lighter fluid or drain cleaner to make homemade meth.

Seizing the opportunity provided by the tougher enforcement of homemade meth in the U.S., Mexican cartels have turned to an old recipe known as P2P that first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s, experts said.

Tennessee, which has often been No. 1 or No. 2 in seizures, is “seeing a significant influx in availability of Mexican meth,” said Tommy Farmer, director of the Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force.