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1. What are the typical characteristics of a location that is dealing drugs?

This question is frequently asked, particularly by individuals who suspect they have someone dealing drugs in their neighborhood or community. While there are exceptions to the rule, some signs which might be indicative of a drug dealer's house are:

• Multiple visitors who stay just a short period of time (heavy traffic in and out)
• Occupant(s) of residence appear to live outside of their means. Fancy cars and other assets while the individuals are not gainfully employed or have no known legitimate source of income
• Law enforcement officers may have responded to the location, multiple times in the past, which in and of itself might be indicative of the presence of a criminal element
• The residence might have the windows obstructed or blacked out to prevent anyone from seeing inside from the exterior of the home
• Presence of pit bulls or other dogs that are aggressive in nature
• Unkempt lawn
• Occupants stay up all hours of the night and appear to sleep during normal business hours

2. What are warning signs that my teenager might be abusing drugs?

• At home: Loss of Interest in family activities, disrespect for family members or family rules, withdrawn from their responsibilities, verbally or physically abusive, sudden increase or decrease in their appetite, disappearance of valuable items or money, not coming home on time, constant excuses for their bad behavior, spending a lot of time in their room, finding the following: cigarette rolling papers, pipes, small glass vials, plastic baggies, remnants of drugs (residual amounts of marijuana, seeds partially burned marijuana cigarettes "roaches", as well as unknown pills, or residual amounts of methamphetamine or cocaine)
• At school: Sudden drop in grades, sleeping during class, not doing homework, defiance towards authority, reduced memory and/or attention span, poor attitude towards sports or other extracurricular activities
• Physical and emotional signs: changes friends, odor of alcohol or marijuana on breath or person, mood swings, unhappy and depressed, negative, argumentative, paranoid, confused, destructive or anxious. Sloppy in appearance

3. What are some signs of a potential methamphetamine lab?

Individuals who possess precursors for clandestine methamphetamine production such as: ephedrine or pseudoephedrine tablets (cold or sinus tablets), red devil lye (drain cleaner), muriatic acid, red phosphorous, anhydrous ammonia, plastic tubing, propane tanks which might have a bluish discoloration around the valve, laboratory type glassware, odors coming from the residence or location which have a chemical smell such ammonia, either, or cat urine, and lastly the production or accumulation of refuse which might include excessive amounts of cold blister packs (packages which contained ephedrine tablets), stained coffee filters, battery casings, discarded propane tanks with blue discoloration, etc.

While most of these items in and of themselves are not illegal to possess, accumulation of these items, particularly in abundance or when purchased or kept together, are signs of clandestine methamphetamine production.

4. Is marijuana a gateway drug?

While the argument might be presented that marijuana is not physically addictive or that it may not be as harmful as other illicit drugs or alcohol, national studies have shown that teenagers who smoke marijuana before the age of 17 are three times more likely to become dependent and move on to abuse cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, or other sedatives.

5. What are the most commonly abused drugs in Hall County?

Marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs). This goes not only for Hall County but appears to be consistent nationwide. It is important to note that in Hall County, overdoses that lead to death are attributed more often than not to pharmaceutical drugs, as opposed to street drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.