Is there a Columbia, MO meth problem? (St. Louis, St. Charles: renting, lawyers)

[gimme it]

Hi,
Does Columbia, MO have a big meth problem? I read somewhere on this forum or another that MO has a great deal of meth use. Thanks for any info.

[ShadowCaver]

Can learn more about each state via:
Meth Statistics Facts
FRONTLINE: the meth epidemic: map - the reach of meth | PBS

Keep in mind that regarding statistics, that each state, each county, each jurisdiction, may or may not enforce, report, etc. data in the same manner - so unless all of the facts/data are gathered/compiled exactly the same, there may be misleading info that one takes away from statistics. Likewise, some law enforcement agencies may or may not be as aggressive with this or that crime. Also, discouraging that some of this data is somewhat dated.

[aragx6]

I don't have any stats, just perception. I don't think Columbia has a major meth problem, outside of the city though it grows much more prevalent. I am sure there is meth use, but I think of concern are others drugs such as coke and acid. those were drugs I came into contact with more frequently when living there.

[cyrano]

As you'd expect from a college town, less meth and more marijuana in Columbia. The meth problem really starts when you leave town and head out into the countryside and the rural towns. I know the criminal lawyers in this town (Columbia) and that's what I hear from them, specifically that their meth clients tend to be elsewhere.

[james80245]

Originally Posted by cyrano

As you'd expect from a college town, less meth and more marijuana in Columbia. The meth problem really starts when you leave town and head out into the countryside and the rural towns. I know the criminal lawyers in this town (Columbia) and that's what I hear from them, specifically that their meth clients tend to be elsewhere.

Yeah, meth is much more common south of Columbia, and often east of it. Jefferson and Lincoln counties are full of meth. Texas County, in southern Missouri, is also meth infested .

[litig8r]

Cocaine tends to be the drug of choice in Columbia - though meth is not uncommon - and marijuana is everywhere. Meth counties (at least where labs are busted) are Franklin, Jefferson, and Jasper.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by litig8r

Cocaine tends to be the drug of choice in Columbia - though meth is not uncommon - and marijuana is everywhere. Meth counties (at least where labs are busted) are Franklin, Jefferson, and Jasper.

Hey there... just curious - any resources to go along with these statements?

Not discounting what ya are saying true or not, and no offense, but like to see data or at least more background of the observations/perceptions put forth here to back up such [sorry, I'm an engineer... ].

[mappy]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Hey there... just curious - any resources to go along with these statements?

Not discounting what ya are saying true or not, and no offense, but like to see data or at least more background of the observations/perceptions put forth here to back up such [sorry, I'm an engineer... ].

I don't have any data about the local Columbia drugs, but I just came from another site with a story about Missouri meth: [url=http://www.krcg.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=93067]Missouri leads in meth lab incidents : News : KRCG[/url]

The counties with the highest meth lab incidents for 2007 were:
1. Jefferson 2182. St. Charles 1063. St. Francois 964. Lincoln 535. Franklin 50

I thought it was interesting that they were concentrated around St. Louis - maybe because of the cluster of interstates (55, 70, 44)?

Anecdotally I have heard a lot about problems of cocaine and marijuana, but not of meth in the local population.

[cyrano]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Hey there... just curious - any resources to go along with these statements?

Not discounting what ya are saying true or not, and no offense, but like to see data or at least more background of the observations/perceptions put forth here to back up such [sorry, I'm an engineer... ].

I don't have data, just the reports of the defense lawyers I know who handle drug cases. They have told me, consistently, that their marijuana and cocaine cases are usually city-based (except for the marijuana growers, some of whom are rural), while their meth cases are almost always rural. When I would do work for them, that was my observation as well-- the meth manufacturers were often farmers who felt, rightly or not, that they needed to make and sell meth to be able to afford to keep their farms. Also, I met several meth defendants whose families were making moonshine in previous generations.

There were more of them in southern Missouri, I'd say from Jeff on south and to the west, but I did work for two guys up in the Kirksville area. Another reason that rural works better for a meth lab is because the awful smell is really tell-tale, and someone living close to you is liable to turn you in.

[ShadowCaver]

mappy and cyrano - thank yas, very much, for some additional info. As said, sorry, but buggers my engineering mind when claims are made [and again, no offense to anyone] about this or that, w/o any info or data to back it up, or at least further evidence to support the statements... as a quality manager, I get to fight that crap known as "perception" and "observation" each and every day, until finally data/info can be acquired to back up or negate the claim. Anyhow, posts such as all of these here then help to enforce that MO does indeed have a real, substantial problem with these terrible issues, not just baseless statements... unfortunately...