Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Copyright: 2004 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) RESTRICT COLD MEDICINE, CUT METH Education A Key Step To Eliminating Meth Use Neither presidential candidate has spent much time this campaign season talking about methamphetamine. That's why it was good to see John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in the Ozarks this week to talk about a new federal government plan to combat meth production. A key component of the plan is stronger state control of the chemicals used in the production of meth, specifically pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is commonly found in over-the-counter decongestants and is one of the easiest meth ingredients to purchase. An Oklahoma law restricts the drug so that only licensed pharmacists or pharmacy technicians can sell it. Customers have their identities and purchases recorded in a database. This may feel like an unnecessary government intrusion into personal privacy. Why should the government need to know if you have a head cold? Although this complaint may have some merit, the abuse of pseudoephedrine calls for more stringent regulations of these drugs. "It all stems from the abuse of the ephedrine being extracted from the pills," said Steve Dalton, a lieutenant with the Branson Police Department and the officer in charge of the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team, a drug task force referred to as COMET and spanning nine southwest Missouri counties. Many meth addicts develop $100-a-day habits. The people who can't afford this often turn to cooking small batches to use. This is an epidemic in Missouri. For two years in a row, our state has had the sad distinction of leading the nation in meth labs seized, and we're on track to be tops for a third consecutive year. What these statistics can't tell us is whether Missourians use more meth or whether Missouri law enforcement officers are more effective at finding meth labs than officers in other states. And when you total up all the meth labs that have been found in Missouri and our border states, it equals 50 percent of the meth labs in the whole nation. Meth labs in this region typically cook a batch ranging from 1 to 5 ounces. In California and Mexico, large labs cook batches of several pounds of meth. But small and large meth labs are equally toxic and pose an equal danger to law enforcement, Dalton said. How do we reduce demand for the meth high? The best way to reduce demand is to reduce production, Dalton said. And the best way to do that is to make it harder to get the ingredients. However, education is another major factor. According to a national survey, 1.3 million people used meth in 2002 and about half of those users were under 18. This federal government plan is good. But we need to do more to stop the demand for this highly addictive drug. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek