Its a pretty color, in most cases pink. It has a sweet taste and looks like candy, and its being marketed to teenagers.

Its far from the sugary treat that can be bought in stores, though.

Its nothing but meth, pure meth, said Russellville police Lt. Scotty Lowery.

Lowery and other law enforcement officers are concerned that the seemingly harmless color and sweet taste may be luring youths to give it a try.

And drug dealers are banking on it.

Thankfully, we havent seen any kids coming to us hooked on this meth yet, said Reggie Watkins, an adolescent adviser for Bradford Heath Services, a substance abuse center.

Watkins said manufacturers of methamphetamine are adding flavoring and color to make it more attractive to younger kids.

Id say most meth users are in the 18 to 35 age range, Lowery said. But this, from what weve been told, is targeting middle and high school students.

Local officers dont think it has arrived in large quantities in northwest Alabama, but they know its getting closer.

Tony Faulkner, another official at Bradford, said the new strawberry meth, as its called on the streets, has already hit Florida.

With so many of our residents going to Florida each year, we need to make people aware of this, Faulkner said.

Watkins said taking a proactive approach is the only way to counter this potential problem. He said thats important for law enforcement, parents and others who are involved with youth.

We cant wait until its here and become reactive, he said. Weve got to get the word out, do some intervention work and guide these young people away from this. We cant let them just go out on their own and try it. It becomes too late then.

Wayne County Sheriff Ric Wilson said methamphetamine, in general, is a large problem in his area of Tennessee.

If these dealers are now beginning to target the younger crowd, its just going to make the problem much worse, he said.

Wilson, like other area law enforcement officials, said he hasnt seen any of the new colored drug on the streets but it worries him.

Its all about money, and the suppliers and the dealers dont care where they get the money or who it hurts, Wilson said.

Wilson, a former Montgomery police officer, said statistics show that only about 5 percent of people who try meth and use it ever recover and beat the habit.

Its the scariest drug Ive ever seen, he said. Its the most addictive drug there is.

Lowery said a person gets hooked after only one use.

Thats all it takes because it gives them such a high, one that they can never reach again, Lowery said. They continue to try and reach that level, though. The more they use, the worse they get.

Watkins put it another way. They use it and then start chasing a ghost.

Thats where the addiction comes, added Sheffield police Sgt. Randy Butler.

Lowery said he understands the new meth started on the West Coast and is making its way across the country.

The flavored drug has been reported in California, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri and Minnesota.

Weve been hearing about it and have been warned about it, said Lawrence County Drug Task Force Director Amard Martin. All we can do is try to be prepared and try to get the word out.