KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Last week we reported exclusively that the proliferation of cheap crystal Methamphetamine manufactured in Mexico and in the south west U.S. and shipped to the Midwest is clogging up Kalamazoo’s courts with drug offenders and drug users who had turned to crime to support their habit.
Kalamazoo County Commissioners will discuss the issue and receive a presentation on a McArthur Foundation grant that will underwrite a study of why 17 to 24-year-olds choose a life of crime.
They currently have about 100 more inmates than at this time last year, due mainly to the increase in meth arrests and related criminal activity.
Sheriff Richard Fuller says because many of them are repeat offenders, they are ending up in the jail. They have not budgeted for inmate populations like this.
.He says once addicted, it’s very difficult to recover from meth. He says he sees people willing to enter programs to kick a heroin addiction, which could prove fatal at any time.
He says they say they are wiling to go through the programs as long as it doesn’t also end their desire for meth, which just takes longer to ruin your life and health.
He says crystal meth is now selling for about $3 a hit, putting local meth cooks out of business and nullifying legislative efforts to control the illegal drug.
He says with well over 400 inmates it becomes more difficult to keep the different categories separated, especially with a larger female population in the jail because of the drug.
