Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005
Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)
Copyright: 2005 Statesman Journal
Contact:  http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427
Author: Cyndi Astley

CRITICISM OF BILL TO COMBAT METH IS DUMBFOUNDING

With the meth crisis swirling all around us, I am shocked some Oregon 
citizens are against the meth bill in the Legislature. Locally, Marion 
County has held the federal designation of a High Intensity Drug 
Trafficking Area for years due to our meth epidemic.

Marion County enforcement officials estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent 
of property crimes are meth related; we are on track to remove 1,000-plus 
children from parental custody in 2005 due to meth; insurance rates in the 
Salem area are double the national average due to meth; and Oregon is 
seventh in the nation for the number of identity-theft claims.

Oregonians against the meth bill are most concerned about the requirement 
of a doctor's prescription to get cold products that contain 
pseudoephedrine. I feel education is needed! There are products on the 
shelves right now that relieve your cold symptoms and work they same way as 
the products that would require a prescription but they don't include 
pseudoephedrine.

Our citizens are paying a high price to fight meth: an estimated $360 per 
person annually. I would rather keep my $360 and use a different cold remedy.

- -- Cyndi Astley

Salem 
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MAP posted-by: Beth