WILLISTON (AP) - Methamphetamine lab raids in northwestern North Dakota parallel the downward trend in other parts of the state, but Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching is skeptical that actual use of the illegal drug is declining.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said last month that new restrictions on cold pill sales have hurt the meth industry. Busching said he believes it is too early to tell.

"There are a lot of dynamics involved in the reasons" for fewer meth lab busts, he said.

Pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in cold medicine, and anhydrous ammonia farm fertilizer both are used to make meth.

Busching said a program requiring locks on anhydrous tanks and a new law requiring North Dakotans to show identification to buy cold pills has at least slowed manufacturing of the drug in the region.

However, "They are pipelining into the area now from Mexico and California," he said. "We are seeing more crystal meth. It is higher quality, higher purity.

"I don't think meth use is down any," he said.

Busching said the solution to the meth problem has three parts: prevention, enforcement and treatment.

He urged the public to continue to give law enforcement tips about suspicious behavior that might be related to drug activity.