TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
Legislators, police officers, and prosecutors from Indiana and Illinois met on Tuesday to combine forces to fight meth.
It's part of a new initiative by the top cops in both states.
Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann attended the discussion, and he says his office spends many, many hours reviewing meth lab cases. He says it's something that's a constant struggle to get on top of.
"Meth is very much like a virus," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
A virus that authorities say is spreading between state lines. Madigan of says border communities are seeing heightened problems with the illegal substance because of varying psuedoephedrine laws.
"We have got to work together and, you know, use the best practices, the creative tools, and resources that we have to make sure that law enforcement is hitting back just as hard as the meth producers are hitting our community," Madigan said.
Madigan, along with Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller hosted a round table discussion. They say it was an opportunity for police and local law makers to exchange some ideas.
Zoeller says one pressing issue is chemical altering or making small changes to substances and finding the people selling those drugs.
"We're going to have to be very aggressive with the retailers who are promoting this, who recognize what they're selling, the cost of it. What sometimes they'll tell the people will tell the purchaser about how to address it," Zoeller said.
Hermann says he wants to see Indiana get on par with Illinois and Kentucky and their regulations.
"We could be looking at a tidal wave if one of the other states were able to get ahead of us," Hermann said.
He says Vanderburgh County is right on par to lead the state in meth labs, and he is anxious to see those incidences become fewer than what they're dealing with right now.
"We haven't had a meth lab since just after midnight last night," Hermann said.
Zoeller also mentioned the proposed legislation that would make psuedoephedrine prescription only. He says he thinks that idea needs to be examined, but he doesn't want to "throw the problem on other states".
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