MILWAUKEE — More than 20 law enforcement agencies gathered Tuesday to address a reemerging issue in southeast Wisconsin: the increased use and sales of crystal methamphetamine.
Officers in several agencies notice an increasing trend of reported meth overdose cases during the last several years. On Tuesday, they stood side-by-side to address the issue and to let dealers know they're cracking down.
"If you're dealing meth in Wisconsin, you face serious time in federal prison," said Matthew Krueger, the United States attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Between Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha counties in 2016, 17 meth-related overdose cases were sent to the Wisconsin Crime lab.
That number spiked in 2018, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, recording 100 cases in the year.
"Some of it comes from the Twin Cities and north and west parts of the state," Krueger said. "Some of it comes through distribution channels from Chicago and the South."
"If you're dealing meth in Wisconsin, you face serious time in federal prison." — Matthew Krueger, the United States attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Jason Gonzales, executive director of 4th Dimension Recovery Center, said he's noticing some of the same trends. More people are coming in with meth use as their primary addiction.
"Now it's getting closer and closer to the city," Gonzales said. "We see it on a daily basis."
Law enforcement agencies are encouraging people to attend the 2019 Wisconsin Opioid and Meth Summit, the second of its kind.
For more information about the summit and to register, click here.
