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According to the Ohio Attorney General's Methamphetamine Report, the presence of meth labs in Ohio has rapidly increased in the past four years: from 24 to more than 160 discovered labs. They are found throughout the entire state, with Clermont, Summit, Ashtabula and Franklin counties containing the most.

Sharp increases in both the number of meth labs seized in Ohio and the number of people abusing the illegal stimulant have state and local leaders hungry for a solution to what some experts say is the greatest drug threat since crack cocaine.

To that end, leaders from the Ohio and Federal Emergency Management Agencies, fire, child welfare, law enforcement, health and hospital officials, treatment, prevention, the justice system and retail merchants met at the Ohio State University Marion Campus for the Ohio Methamphetamine (Meth) Summit, July 15 and 16.

In his opening remarks, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said the summit was organized to develop awareness of meth and to look for maximum cooperation and ultimately solutions for Ohio.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken orally. The drug is known on the streets as speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal and glass. Anhydrous ammonia is often stolen from farms and used to make meth.

Farmers can help to keep anhydrous ammonia on the land. The Fertilizer Institute recommends the following steps:

• Be alert. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar or suspicious persons attempting to purchase anhydrous ammonia from you or your neighbors.

• Don't leave tanks unattended for a long time.

• Immediately report releases to local police and/or emergency responders.

• Position tanks in open areas where they can be seen easily from the road.

• Return tanks immediately after use.

• Do not store tanks and toolbars inside buildings, in livestock containment areas or near a residence.

• Inspect and record the condition of nurse tanks upon delivery, again after use and upon return to the dealer.

Links to more information on the summit or methamphetamine may be found at www.ofbf.org, featured links.