Iowa has laws in place to limit the sale of over-the-counter pseudophedrine, which have hampered the ability of lab operators to collect the primary ingredient in making methamphetamine.

Meth labs have been few and far between since the law was enacted a few years back, but producers remain in the quest of finding ways around the system, from "phishing" to "smurfing" the items they need.

The use of Meth in the state is declining at a steady pace, but other means of getting high, like prescription drug abuse, is rising, according to a report released on Thursday from the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.

Officials added that underage binge drinking continues at a high rate, but authorities cautioned the trend may be higher than recorded, because they can only record calls which resulted in citations or arrests.

This year, state narcotics authorities have worked 79 percent more cases involving prescription drugs than in the previous year. According to a report, state agents have seized more diverted pharmaceuticals, mostly pain medications.

A recent statewide study has shown more and more substance abuse treatment centers are beginning to see an increase of patients fighting prescription drug addiction. Experts say it is because medications are -- sometimes -- easily accessible and can be found in several home medicine cabinets.

In response to the emerging threat, and in addition to current efforts, state officials on Thursday announced an educational initiative primarily for parents -- The Iowa Prescription Responsibility and Education Project -- that will include public service messages, brochures, posters, presentations and a dedicated web site. Iowa's new prescription drug monitoring program, a centralized database to electronically monitor pharmacy transactions, also is expected to go on line next spring to help deter the illegal diversion of prescription drugs.

In Burlington, the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, a collective agency consisting of members from area law enforcement, are the guardians of the streets of the city, the county roads as well as nearby areas.

Locally, task force officials said prescription drug abuse remain steady, as in the previous year, but they are not letting their guard down.

Sgt. Greg Allen of the Burlington Police Department and a member of the task force said "meth as far as Meth labs are not that many this year."

Since joining the narcotics group in July of this year, Allen said they have encountered one Meth lab.

However, several arrests have been made, mostly as a result of controlled buy operations conducted by narcotics agents with the help of confidential informants. Most of those arrested earlier this year on drug charges have been prosecuted, and some are now serving time in prison.

But still the work goes on. As Allen put it, "We're plenty busy."

Drug convictions in Des Moines County are up in 2007 at 52 in comparison to 38 in 2006.

In 2006, narcotics agents seized 1,116.12 grams of Cocaine and 155.71 grams of Crack cocaine. Those numbers declined in 2007 with 97 grams of Cocaine and 109.5 grams of crack.

Most numbers in the latest local narcotics seizures are down, including Meth but prescription drugs have slightly jumped from 338 units in 2006 to 430 units in 2007.

Allen said Crack is still the prevalent illegal substance peddled in the streets of Burlington.

Drug Enforcement Administration said 80 percent of the Methamphetamine used in the U.S. comes from larger labs -- the agency calls super labs -- which are increasingly found in Mexico.

DEA, however, still ranks Iowa as having the 10th highest rate of Meth labs in the nation, and recent reports from Iowa law enforcement agencies indicate the decline in Meth labs may be leveling off or slightly reversing itself in some areas.

Drug-related prison admissions last year totaled 795, a decrease of 10 percent from the previous year, and down for the fourth consecutive year, driven primarily by a 52 percent decline in meth-related incarcerations since 2004. Meth manufacturing and distribution arrests dropped below the number of arrests for Cocaine in 2007.

Locally, most arrests on prescription drugs come after other illegal substances already have been found on a defendant. It, most of the time, stems from as simple as a traffic stop on a broken tail light.

Being around rural areas makes it difficult to pinpoint underage drinking parties, most of which are held in large remote areas. Some are in homes where adults are known to be the peddlers of booze.

Police and sheriff's officials said catching underage drinking is just as difficult as spotting a dealer in broad daylight selling drugs on the street.

But the dangers are similar.

In March, two West Burlington High School students, Ross Arthur Taylor, 18, and Kara Marie Patejak, 17, died in a car crash on West Burlington Avenue between the 2200 and 2300 blocks, and police said Alcohol was involved.

Michael Jerome Bernhart, 21, has been charged with supplying the teens with Alcohol, the night and early morning before the accident. He and Patejak were passengers in the car driven by Taylor. Bernhart, whose case will go to trial next month, was not injured during the crash.

According to statistics, two-thirds of state residents admitted in treatment centers recorded Alcohol as their problem.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health says Iowa has one of the highest rates of underage drinking. The survey found 12-to-17-year-old Iowa teenagers binge drink at a rate nearly 11 percent higher than the national rate.