Pubdate: Sun, 24 Jul 2005
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: U.S. Rep. Dan Boren
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SENATE BILL UNDERMINES METH FIGHT

Oklahoma has made real progress in the fight against methamphetamine. 
But across our country, other states are beginning to feel its 
drastic effects. Public officials, and certainly law enforcement, in 
nearly every state and large city have acknowledged the scourge of 
meth. When the National Association of Counties recently asked law 
enforcement agencies across 45 states about meth, 87 percent reported 
increases in meth-related arrests starting three years ago. 
Fifty-eight percent said meth was their biggest drug problem, 
estimating that one in five of their current jail inmates were housed 
because of a meth-related crime. Local officials also reported higher 
rates of robberies, domestic violence, assaults and identity thefts 
as a result of increased meth use.

No longer a rural phenomenon, meth has invaded the inner city. Large 
cities, such as Chicago, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Miami and Long 
Beach, Calif., are reporting higher addiction rates. The enormity of 
the problem has become alarming, affecting people of every age and 
social-economic group. When Oklahoma passed its anti-meth law in 
2003, it turned out to be the most effective drug policy in decades. 
Within months, the new law led to an 80 percent reduction in the 
number of meth labs seized statewide. With the help of Rep. Tom Cole, 
R-Okla., I have introduced the Methamphetamine Reduction Act in the 
U.S. House, a bill to make the Oklahoma law a national standard. It 
would move medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the crucial 
ingredient to make meth, behind pharmacy counters. As in Oklahoma, 
consumers would be required to present a photo I.D. and sign for 
medicines containing the ingredient. These changes in law would 
require no additional spending or new government programs.

Passing a national law would bring additional relief in Oklahoma's 
battle against meth. Many border counties are not feeling the full 
effects of the Oklahoma law because meth cooks are hopping state 
lines to skirt our state's anti-meth restrictions. Meth cooks can 
visit retail stores in neighboring states, purchase 
pseudoephedrine-containing products in bulk, and bring it back to 
Oklahoma to make meth. It is clear, that for Oklahoma's anti-meth 
effort to succeed fully, bordering states must also control 
pseudoephedrine. In light of meth's growing threat, other proposals 
have been introduced in Congress - offering different approaches to 
the problem. Currently a proposal exists in the U.S. Senate that 
would inadvertently weaken Oklahoma's law.

Introduced by Sens. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., 
the proposal is similar to Oklahoma's law except for a loophole that 
would allow pseudoephedrine-containing medicines to be sold in 
convenience stores. If passed, the bill would override Oklahoma's 
current law to allow this exemption. Since convenience stores are not 
subject to the same federal oversight as licensed pharmacies, this 
exemption would weaken the strength of our anti-meth efforts and deal 
a major blow to local law enforcement. I stand opposed to any 
proposal that weakens Oklahoma's restrictions. The Boren/Cole 
legislation builds on the success we've had in Oklahoma by using a 
model that is simple and proven effective. The Sooner State was the 
nation's laboratory for how to deal with the meth problem. Congress 
should learn from our experience and help us bring Oklahoma's success 
to the national level.

Reach Dan Boren at 216 Cannon, Washington, D.C,. 20515, or at (202) 
225-2701 or his local office at 687-2533.
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MAP posted-by: Beth