Meth Labs On The Decline In Oklahoma

The number of meth lab seizures in Oklahoma has dropped dramatically. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) reports 830 meth lab busts in 2012. In 2013, that number was 410.

OBN spokesman Mark Woodward attributes the decline to laws passed in 2012 that limit home much pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in meth, a person can buy.

In 2012, the amounts of pseudoephedrine started being tracked through a database with several states.

"Even though our meth labs are dropping we are not seeing a drop in meth use," says Woodward.

Woodward says meth from Mexico has filled the void left by less meth labs. Authorities say less labs means more time and resources aimed at taking down Mexican drug cartels.

The OBN says spending more time on the big conspiracy cases is working. Last year, four major Mexican ice distribution networks in Oklahoma were taken down.