A representative from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) spoke to Champaign County Engineer’s Office employees on Monday about methamphetamine and hazards to look for.

During a nearly two-hour presentation, Dwight Aspacher provided information on how the drug is made, signs of usage and what engineer employees can do if they spot methamphetamine materials.

Champaign County Engineer Stephen McCall said his office has previously had a similar presentation from the Ohio BCI.

McCall said his office has gone through different training sessions this year, and as they get ready for trash pickup before mowing season he thought this would be a great time to hold the presentation.

“I definitely want to inform my new employees and remind my more seasoned employees of the dangers that are out there, what to look for and how to handle those hazards and what we need to do to properly do our work,” McCall said.

He added Monday’s presentation was also an opportunity to invite township employees and local law enforcement personnel.

Aspacher is a member of the clandestine drug lab unit which investigates any clandestine drug lab. He said methamphetamine is the most abused drug on the planet with a 90 to 98 percent relapse rate.

Throughout his presentation, Aspacher showed pictures and videos illustrating the short- and long-term effects of the drug on its users and property destroyed caused by methamphetamine explosions.

“This county has been very fortunate – I’ll knock on wood for you – you guys haven’t had a ton of meth labs in this county,” Aspacher said. “You had that dump site out in Johnson Township, but that could’ve been somebody just rolling through the county so it’s hard to tell.”

McCall said within the last month materials were found in Johnson Township neat Kiser Lake and he wants his employees to be aware of potential hazards.

“I had heard that something was found and we had actually already scheduled this thinking ahead of that, but it just reinforced the idea that we did need to have it because it happens everywhere,” McCall said.

Aspacher advised the employees if they find a bottle or items containing materials used to make methamphetamine to stay away from it and not get too close. If they come into contact with these kind of materials he also recommended they call the fire department and police department.