"Meth Reality: What's Cookin' in Covington County!" is the slogan citizens will see when they log on to a new website by the Covington County 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force and the Andalusia Police Department.

Andalusia Police Chief Wilbur Williams announced Tuesday night at the Andalusia City Council Meeting the unveiling of the new website, www.methreality.com, designed to inform people of the consequences of taking methamphetamines.

The website was made possible in part by a meth grant the DTF received several months ago, said Williams.

"It's a standard page now, but the rest will be loaded in a day or two," said Williams. "It's to share the reality of what experimenting with methamphetamine and methamphetamine addiction is about.

It's a hard-hitting website designed for young people.

We're really excited about it, because it gives us the opportunity to reach out and expose this information to the public."

Williams said he would be attending a conference in Auburn August 2 to discuss local meth problems with other police chiefs.

Other rural communities are experiencing just as many problems with meth as Covington County, he said.

"The meth thing is here," Williams said.

"Any county with a Super Wal-Mart has super meth problems.

Other counties have a problem, they are just not addressing it as aggressively as we are."

Williams admitted Wal-Mart has cooperated nationally with limiting the sell of products which contain pseudo-ephedrine, the chief ingredient used to make meth.

However, some local "Mom and Pop" stores are cashing in, he said.

Some chains, such as convenience stores and local grocery stores, have also cooperated in limiting the sells of items which contain pseudo-ephedrine, said the DTF commander.

But there are problem areas which haven't given full cooperation, according to the commander.

"Approximately 2 percent of the population of Covington County has been arrested in connection with either possession or distribution of meth," said the commander.

Since the DTF program began in 2000, 127 of its total 757 arrests have been the seizure of "meth labs," according to the commander.

"As long as we have able bodies, we will have a meth problem," said the commander.

Williams said the force plans on educating schools, churches, and local clubs and organizations on the dangers of meth.

The website is another public service to deter users from starting, he said.

The DTF commander said the force is also running ads in newspapers, radio, and TV to address the meth problem.

On the website, a phone number and

email address, 222-LABS and DTF@alaweb.com, are posted for people to contact them for more information on the force's meth war.