The use of methamphetamine is falling in Iowa when compared to cocaine, but the number of meth lab busts is again on the rise. Brad Thompson, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, says, "Methamphetamine is definitely down a little bit compared to cocaine but at the same time, it’s still very prevalent and still a lot of cases can be made there."
He says some people think meth cases are picking up because more meth lab busts are being reported around the state, but it’s still not a very significant increase statistically. Thompson says cocaine busts are on the rise in Iowa. Cocaine has never gone away, Thompson says, "Even when methamphetamine was prevalent, cocaine was always there, it’s just that cocaine is still very prevalent and actually surpassing methamphetamine as it relates to seizures."
Meth lab busts in Iowa fell in recent years after new restrictions were placed on the over-the-counter sale of allergy and cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth.