This is a crown we don't want to wear...

Police 'Operation Slab' Seize Methamphetamine And Weapons In Auckland
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We all make jokes about meth in our area but it is a very real problem. Meth addiction affects many people in our community. Although our local law enforcement has done a fantastic job cracking down on meth, a couple years ago we have still earned an award we certainly don't want.

According to The Recovery Village from 2014, Indiana is the Meth Capital of the World (Illinois and Kentucky are also on that list). Not only was Indiana the meth capital, but Evansville got a special shout-out:

The number one state that has now taken over as the meth capital of the U.S. and the meth capital of the world is Indiana. Indiana has busted thousands of meth labs, and it’s particularly problematic in Vanderburgh County, which is the area around Evansville. It’s gotten so bad in this so-called meth capital of the world and meth capital of the U.S. that public officials are warning people that trash left outdoors could be corrosive, toxic or flammable.

Not exactly the publicity we want. But there is better news on the horizon. I talked to Jason Cullum with the Evansville Police Dept and he told me that our police have been hard at work battling the meth problem. He told me in 2013, 115 meth labs were reported in the Evansville area. Last year, only 15 were reported and most of the meth in the area is not manufactured here but is being imported. And this year there have only been five meth labs have been reported. He also told me that the police department continues to battle other drugs like opioids and prescription medications. This year, Indiana was named number seven by WalletHub for highest drug use per state. 

Thank you to our local law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and battle these terrible addictions. If you are facing an addiction, get help today. Oh, and if you were thinking about trying meth, DON'T!

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