Meth in Rural Utah
Small towns in Utah have definitely seen more meth during the last few years. Just this week, ksl.com reported that 3 men were arrested in Price after police say they found 135.9 grams of meth and nearly 16 grams of heroin in a car during a traffic stop.
A recent documentary titled, “Aftermath of Meth” by Kathy Weiler examined how meth ruins small towns. The film points out how the unique attributes of the American West make it fertile ground for methamphetamine production and abuse. Weiler indicates that, “Small Town America has become a high-stakes venue for methamphetamine trafficking.”
Deseretnews.com reported that, “in 2001, a Mexican drug ring based in Ogden targeted Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation with more than 100 pounds of meth — enough for 45,000 doses. Three members of the ring rented houses near the reservation and formed romantic relationships with young Indian women to gain access to the tribes. Within five years, assaults tripled, thefts doubled and child abuse increased 85 percent.”
This drug ring nearly crushed the culture of the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes according to filmmaker Weiler. She further indicates that, “the oil and gas boom in Eastern Utah has fueled a young, roughneck workforce addicted to meth. They make a lot of money and that’s how they spend it,” she said.
Because of the boom in this rural area, many (it’s estimated to be 1/3) of the drilling rig crews in the Uintah Basin have meth-related problems. While some rig operators do periodic drug testing, others look away to keep production on schedule, according to the program.
Many people don’t understand what a meth addict looks like. They think of the addict as a homeless person on the street, when, in fact, they could be anyone-so many types of people are affected by meth. Weiler indicates, “A meth addict is not just a guy on the street with a needle in his arm. An addict is your next-door neighbor.”
With the recent meth bust in Price, Utah and so many other areas being affected by the ravaging drug, police are constantly learning to teach more prevention and enforce consequences for those affected by meth.