PENDLETON-- Umatilla County once led the nation in methamphetamine use per capita. Now, cocaine is the new drug of choice.

"A couple years ago, it was real bad, real bad," said Doug Siler, a Pendleton resident.

But law enforcement in has been cracking down hard on meth operations, and the state government is listening.

In 2005, Oregon became the first state in the country to make it illegal to buy pseudoephedrine over the counter. Pseudoephedrine is found in cold medicines, and is also a main ingredient used to make meth.

Both police and Umatilla County residents say the legislation has had a huge impact on their community.

"We've seen not only the small production labs, but also the prevalence of the traditional Mexican meth, go away," said Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts.

"It used to be, day in and day out, the crack-heads-- meth-heads, whatever you want to call them-- you'd see them everywhere," said Siler. "You hardly ever see them anymore."

In the last two years, police have seized 15 pounds of meth. But addicts and dealers switched one white powder for another, and started bringing in cocaine, mostly from Mexico.

In the last couple months, police have seized almost half a pound of cocaine. Even though it's more expensive, they say people find a way to come up with the extra cash.

"People started using it, and it pretty much controls their life," said Roberts. "We're seeing people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, educational backgrounds, and so forth."

Still, some people say, meth remains to be a huge problem around here. Even though pseudoephedrine is harder to come by, almost all the ingredients and tools used to make meth can be bought at the local store, like rubber tubing, diesel gas, fertilizer and antifreeze.

Rather than making it at home, police say dealers have now turned to Mexican imports of crystal meth, a much more potent form of the drug.

"It's absolutely ridiculous how Umatilla County is turning out," said Pendleton resident Dustin Quittschrieber. "They need to do something big about it, a drastic change."

That's because addicts often commit property crimes, and even crimes against people, to feed their habits.

"Car thefts, cell phones-- it's getting really ridiculous how everyone is breaking into things," said Quittschrieber. "They have to have their dope."

"People would be tweaking in the yard, hiding all kinds of stuff and stealing it," said Siler. "The hub caps on your car wouldn't be there."

The Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team was recently recognized as the leader in five states for its extensive interstate drug trafficking busts.