Within the last few days, police officers in Harlan County have dealt with four meth related cases.

On Tuesday night police arrested four people ..including an escapee... outside the CVS Pharmacy in Harlan for manufacturing meth.

Police found ingredients to make methamphetamine in their car.
Those arrested first told police they were at the store to buy soft drinks, but later confessed they were there to buy Sudafed.

"The trend has hit Harlan and it's something we have to deal with," said Harlan County Sheriff, Marvin Lipfird.

While police say their skills have improved when it comes to tracking the the labs, they do admit the problem is getting worse in the region.

"It's one of the worst things that could happen. You have all these chemicals cooking where children are possibly at...then you add in the fact once you do meth you are hooked," said Lipfird.

Police say one way to cut down the number of meth labs is to make folks have a prescription in order to buy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

Kentucky lawmakers would have to pass legislation to make that happen.

Those arrested Tuesday night declined to be interviewed from jail.