Attorney general urges people to stop selling to 'smurfs'

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller spoke Wednesday about a new statewide public-awareness effort to warn shoppers against buying cold medicines for "smurfs," or people who help in the methamphetamine manufacturing process by buying different ingredients for meth cooks. In July, this illegal activity was changed from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Learn more about Zoeller's campaign in the Friday, Nov. 29, News-Banner.

This fall, the News-Banner published a multipart series on the impact of drugs in Wells County from Sept. 30 through Oct. 10. In the Saturday, Oct. 5, edition, the News-Banner compared the number of labs in Wells to surrounding counties. Master Trooper Andy Smith of the Indiana State Police said, though, that the numbers aren't quite accurate, due to manpower and training needed in the lab-identification process.

In fact, the numbers are most likely higher. Below is the graphic the News-Banner used to illustrate the 2012 lab seizures by the ISP.

The state of Indiana has also published information online to learn more about meth in Indiana. For instance, 

• Learn more about the signs, symptoms and behaviors of a meth addict.
• Warning signs that someone is using a property to manufacture meth.
• Report suspected meth activity.
• See the effects of meth on its users.
• Better identify a meth lab.