CONTINUING COVERAGE

Tulsa's meth abuse epidemic



Overview: While the number of reported labs has decreased from 2011, Tulsa is still on track to have more than 300 labs in 2012. So far, police have responded to 274 labs this year.

Nearly half of the 843 meth labs reported to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in 2011 were found within the Tulsa city limits, officials said.

Despite recent expansions of the state's tracking system for pseudoephedrine and law enforcement's efforts to curb the epidemic, more tools are needed, said OBNDD spokesman Mark Woodward.

Tulsa police worked 429 meth labs in 2011, said Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham. The total shattered the previous year's record of 323 with an increase of more than 30 percent.

The number of meth labs reported to the OBNDD from across the state increased by 3 percent, from 818 to 843.

This page provides continuing coverage of the issues.



HEADLINES

U.S. Supreme Court declines case on Oklahoma meth law   6/11/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an effort by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to reinstate criminal penalties for people with methamphetamine-related convictions who are caught purchasing cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Read the Tulsa World’s continuing coverage of the meth epidemic.

Safety board calls for lower drunken-driving limit

Safety board calls for lower drunken-driving limit   5/15/2013

States should reduce the blood-alcohol level that qualifies as drunken driving to 0.05 percent from 0.08 percent to reduce fatal crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday.

Woman, boyfriend charged in meth case; children in DHS custody

Woman, boyfriend charged in meth case; children in DHS custody   5/13/2013

Prosecutors say the crimes occurred in the presence of her 9- and 10-year-old children.

Three charged in federal meth conspiracy case   4/26/2013

A man whose conviction in a federal firearms case was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1994 was arraigned Thursday in a methamphetamine conspiracy case.

Meth raids nab 25; ring moved drug from Mexico, police say

Meth raids nab 25; ring moved drug from Mexico, police say   4/6/2013

Local, state and federal authorities on Friday arrested 25 people accused of supplying the Tulsa area with more than 260 pounds of Mexican methamphetamine for more than four years.

Tulsa woman suspected of shoplifting had meth on her, police say

Tulsa woman suspected of shoplifting had meth on her, police say   3/20/2013

Police officers who arrested a shoplifting suspect Monday evening found the woman carrying 26 grams of methamphetamine, they said.

Oklahomans say no to pseudoephedrine prescription, survey shows

Oklahomans say no to pseudoephedrine prescription, survey shows   3/9/2013

More than 60 percent of Oklahomans surveyed oppose requiring a prescription for the allergy and cold drug pseudoephedrine, which is a key ingredient in meth labs.

Grandmother's meth lab burns toddler, authorities say

Grandmother's meth lab burns toddler, authorities say   2/7/2013

A 2-year-old girl is recovering from chemical burns she suffered in connection with her grandmother's meth lab, Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault said.

2 defendants in meth case linked to child’s death are sentenced

2 defendants in meth case linked to child’s death are sentenced   2/2/2013

Two defendants who testified for the prosecution at a murder trial linked to a fatal meth fire were sentenced Friday on reduced charges.

Tulsa man acquitted in fatal meth fire

Tulsa man acquitted in fatal meth fire   1/26/2013

Tulsa County jurors acquitted a man Friday of murder and other counts tied to the death of a child in a fire that investigators said was meth-lab related.

Tulsa man denies role in meth-linked fire that killed baby

Tulsa man denies role in meth-linked fire that killed baby   1/25/2013

A man who is on trial for murder in connection with a deadly fire told police repeatedly that he was not cooking methamphetamine that morning.

Defendants testify in fatal fire

Defendants testify in fatal fire   1/24/2013

Two defendants who are charged in connection with a fire that claimed a Tulsa baby's life testified Wednesday at the trial of another defendant.

Co-defendants testify in fatal meth fire trial

Co-defendants testify in fatal meth fire trial   1/23/2013

Jeffrey Wayne McBride, Jacob A. Bell and Jennifer Michelle Jennings are charged with causing the death of Jennings’ son, Ayden Jennings, by committing arson in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine on Nov. 10, 2011.

Suspect in Tulsa child's meth-related death sentenced in separate drug case

Suspect in Tulsa child's meth-related death sentenced in separate drug case   1/16/2013

A Tulsa felon who was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison for a methamphetamine crime still faces a murder trial in a child-death case that prosecutors link to a meth-lab fire.

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