War on Drugs: Itís not just L.A.
Jim Heald
News editor

 The new so-called ìdesignerî drugs have chemical structures and effects similar to existing drugs: however, they have no history, ìso you do not know what they will do,î said Ted Shields, PhD in chemisty and associate professor in the Physical Sciences Division.

 Designer drugs are prevalent inthe Ashland area, ìbut not as much as cocaine,î KY State Police Troope Gary Kistner said.

 ìIce,î a crystaline form of methamphetamine, is shaped like an ice cube and has a blue coloring similar to glacial ice, according to Tom Morrow, a forensic drug chemist at the KY State Regional Crime Lab.

 The staff of Pathways, Inc., is aware that ice, a new drug, has appeared in Hawaii and ìwe will be prepared for it as it comes into the area,î said Todd trumbore, director of substance abuse treatment for the public mental health organization.

 ìAs far as we know it has not hit the West Coast,î said CIty of Ashland Police Lt. Chapman Cole. ìWe are waiting to see if it comes into our area.î

 ìIce has caused severe psychosis and death. In Hawaii, 37 deaths have been reported and the count is still rising. It is catching on like ëcrackí did in the boroughs,î said Morrow.