In partnership with the North Central Drug Task Force, Elk County District Attorney Beau Grove (right) and Cameron County District Attorney Paul Malizia worked to develop and disseminate methamphetamine test kits to aid local law enforcement agencies.
Elk County District Attorney Beau M. Grove and Cameron County District Attorney Paul J. Malizia recently announced that they, along with members of the North Central Drug Task Force, have worked in conjunction to develop and disseminate methamphetamine test kits to be utilized by all local law enforcement agencies.
Each methamphetamine test kit includes a combination field test and lab sample kit that provides law enforcement the fastest and most convenient way to test for the presence of methamphetamine on any surface. This will give law enforcement an immediate indication of methamphetamine being present in a particular location. This type of immediate detection will not only assist police in drug investigations, but will most importantly be utilized to determine if methamphetamine usage in occurring within residences, potentially exposing children to the drug.
Contaminated surfaces, due to someone who has used methamphetamine touching the surface or previously airborne residue that has settled, can expose children and adults through dermal absorption due to skin contact with the contaminated area or through ingestion if hands are then put in mouths without cleaning. If someone experiences a significant level of exposure to methamphetamine, they can become ill. In general, infants, children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for complications. However, methamphetamine exposure can affect healthy adults as well. Research has shown that methamphetamine residue adheres best to kitchen countertops, plastic venetian blinds, and children’s plastic toys.
Grove and Malizia noted that the methamphetamine test kits have recently been provided to the Emporium Borough Police, Ridgway Borough, City of St. Marys and Johnsonburg Borough police departments, Pennsylvania State Police, North Central Drug Task Force, Elk County Detective Gregg McManus, and Cameron County Detective David Merritt for their immediate use. Grove and Maliza said their intent is also to provide the methamphetamine test kits to local agencies including each county’s Children, Youth and Family services agencies, and that the kits were funded by money seized and forfeited from drug-related investigations.
Grove and Malizia noted that their primary goal was to protect our communities’ youth from methamphetamine exposure in a more immediate and expedited manner.
