Meth cases reach 7-year low

Monday, May 24, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter has released the 2009 Meth Statistics in Putnam County showing methamphetamine cases have fallen to a seven-year low.

There were only six cases filed in 2009, compared to a high of 75 cases filed in 2005.

"From 2003 to 2005, meth cases really doubled each year in Putnam County. We implemented the "Stop Meth" program in the spring of 2005, and the Meth cases have fallen each year since then," said Bookwalter.

The "Stop Meth" program targeted meth dealers and "cookers" with long prison sentences, and short-term jail for users followed with a daily treatment program for users similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Addiction experts told us that to treat meth users they really need about 60 days of incarceration before they are ready to accept treatment. Treatment needs the reinforcement of daily group meetings," said Bookwalter.

"It has certainly helped to put Putnam County's meth dealers in prison for lengthy prison sentences, but I believe the biggest reason for our success has been the public's awareness of the dangers of meth. With the help of all four school corporations, we have all preached hard to the students to stay away from meth. The statistics that I am most proud of is that we have not had a meth case in Putnam County with school-age kids," said Bookwalter.

The other big help to the "Stop Meth" program has been the new law that restricts the sale of pseudoephedrine that was initiated by Governor Daniels.

Meth cases filed:

2003 -- 25

2004 -- 44

2005 -- 75

2006 -- 25

2007 -- 22

2008 -- 18

2009 -- 6

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This is definetly good news.

-- Posted by Xgamer on Mon, May 24, 2010, at 5:12 AM
I don't believe it, but that's just my $0.02.

-- Posted by zeegron on Mon, May 24, 2010, at 6:02 PM
Now,when is the election ??

-- Posted by Blue6 on Mon, May 24, 2010, at 6:15 PM
Credit should also go to former Sheriff Frisbie who started the aggressive work to stop meth.

-- Posted by Geologist on Tue, May 25, 2010, at 6:01 AM
I find it very hard to believe-keep in mind there is an election coming up-so how accurate is this information?

-- Posted by peace2019 on Tue, May 25, 2010, at 12:26 PM
Statistics may say Meth Bust are down but meth use is still here in Putnam County. Daily drugs are dealt and used and people who sell them do so out in the open. Ball fields, city park, and parking lots see alot of drug sells everyday and now gas stations are selling K-12? Don't fool yourself into believing headway is being made. Yes you can tell it is an election year.

-- Posted by Trying hard on Tue, May 25, 2010, at 1:05 PM
ditto npgrad2008

-- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 7:44 AM
Exactly right npgrad2008. They just aren't arresting them. If meth use is going down, then there is new drug that took its place. Where are those statistics?

-- Posted by purduegrad on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:47 AM

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