Meth Bigger Than Coke On The Western Slope

Meth use is more prevalent than cocaine on the western slope, according to the Garfield County Meth Task Force.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Data presented at the first public meeting of the Garfield County Methamphetamine Task Force showed the number of methamphetamine cases has overtaken the number of cocaine cases in the county.

"We're seeing the barometric pressure rising with regards to meth and that a storm is coming," Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cheney said. But people who filled the county commissioners' meeting chambers Tuesday night hope to work proactively to fight the problem.

About five years ago, Glenwood Springs Police were surprised when they saw meth, Chief Terry Wilson said. Now, they're surprised to see many crimes that don't involve it.

Michael Gizzi of Mesa State College presented some results of initial data collected from 244 felony drug cases mostly from the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

The data showed 47 percent of the cases examined related to meth, 44 percent related to cocaine, 18 percent related to marijuana and 12 percent to other drugs. But authorities know that many other crimes are tied to meth use in some way. The most common crimes associated with it were traffic violations, DUIs, thefts, burglaries and an increasing number of weapons charges.

"People will do anything to get their fix," Gizzi said.
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