PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
A record number of meth labs are costing taxpayers a lot of money, especially in Clinton County.
There have been eight meth busts in Clinton County this year. The drug has many mental and physical impacts on the body, including weight loss and tooth decay. At the Clinton County Jail more than three-quarters of the $475,000 medical budget for the year has already been spent. They attribute a lot of it to the growing problem of addiction to meth.
"Two years ago we spent about $1,800 on dental care, this year it will be over $15,000. It isn't by choice, it's not because we want to provide a certain level of dental care. New York State has a certain standard we have to follow," Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said.
Breaking down the meth labs is also costing taxpayers a large chunk of money. Statewide, police have spent nearly $1 million cleaning up the meth labs.
