Strawberry-flavored meth, known as Strawberry Quick, and other flavored forms of the drug are a trend that meth cooks appear to be using to draw in younger users by adding strawberry drink mix into the drug, according to law enforcement.

So far, the pink substance has not surfaced in Oklahoma, but it has been found as nearby as Fort Smith, Ark., and in Missouri, as well as California and Nevada, said Officer Jason Willingham of the Tulsa Police Department.

Strawberry Quick began to show up around mid-February on the West Coast, he said, and the trend is moving east.

"It kind of bypassed us for some reason," Willingham said. "It's only a matter of time before it moves back to our community. Right now, we have not seen it, but we want people to know it will eventually make it to Tulsa."

The drug is characterized as being similar to meth in appearance and texture, coming in powder or crystal form, except that it's pink, he said. According to law enforcement in other states, there are also other flavors, including pineapple, chocolate and cola.

"I suspect your strawberry meth is entirely driven by a desire to attract youth to start using the drug," Rob Bovett, legal counsel to Oregon's Narcotics Enforcement Agency and president of the Oregon Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, recently told a committee of the Nevada Legislature.

"The full-blown addict is going to want the rush that is followed by the high. You can only get the rush by injecting it or smoking it, but you can eat it, you can put it in liquids and swallow it, you can snort it, but generally, the full-blown addicts are going to inject it or smoke it."

Willingham said that since the strawberry flavor cannot be tasted while smoking or injecting the drug, it is intended for young people, the first-time user or those afraid of needles.

"The people making this are trying to make it appeal to a younger crowd," Willingham said. "Most of the hardcore addicts don't orally take this drug."

The drug shows why it is important for parents to talk with their children early about the dangers of drugs, Willingham said.

"Get to the kids young, get to them early, talk about the dangers, don't wait until they're 15 or 16 years old," Willingham said. "It's up to us as parents and school officials and police officers. We have to stop it and it's very important to start now."

Clifton Adcock 581-8367
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com