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 - --- MAP posted-by: Beth