By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorPreliminary numbers from law enforcement show the number of methamphetamine lab seizures in Warren County were up in 2013.The county saw 39 meth lab seizures in 2013. That number is up from 2012’s total of 27 meth lab seizures, and 32 in both 2011 and 2010.Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the fluctuations are likely the result of the cyclical nature of the justice system. “Our experienced meth cooks get released and are back on the street cooking,” he said. “Or they are incarcerated and one or two learn to cook and take their place.”Harrison said as long as there is a demand for meth there will be no shortage of people to make it.Neighboring counties showed considerably more meth activity than did Warren County. From January through September 2013, Franklin County reported 55 lab seizures (down from a yearly total of 102 in 2012) and St. Charles County reported 90. Jefferson County remains the largest meth producer in Missouri with 178 meth lab seizures (down from 346 in 2012). Southeast Missouri, traditionally the hotbed of meth production, has seen incidents decrease since the passage of prescription-only laws. The laws require customers to have a prescription to purchase medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the vital ingredient needed to make homemade meth.Harrison said there has been little interest in the passage of a prescription-only law in Warren County.State TotalsIn the first three quarters of the year there were 1,217 lab seizures in Missouri. In contrast there were 1,985 lab seizures in 2012, and 2,096 in 2011.As of Oct. 1 of last year, Missouri ranked second in meth incidents nationwide. Indiana was the nation’s meth lab leader with 1,430 incidents. Missouri has historically ranked first in the nation in meth production.“It’s a title we are more than happy to cede to them,” Harrison said.Meth lab seizures up in county