Pubdate: Mon, 31 Jan 2005
Source: Oak Ridger (TN)
Copyright: 2005 The Oak Ridger
Contact:  http://www.oakridger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1146
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BREDESEN WANTS METH-MAKING MEDICINES OFF SHELVES

CHATTANOOGA - Gov. Phil Bredesen will ask lawmakers to remove the
key ingredient in methamphetamine from store shelves by putting
Sudafed and some other cold and allergy pills behind pharmacy counters.

Although not yet finished, the package of bills will restrict
pseudoephedrine products, which are commonly used to make the
addictive stimulant, said Bredesen aide Will Pinkston.

"The question is how many," Pinkston said. "That is the part that we
are going to be working on down to the wire. We are poring over a lot
of scientific research before making that decision."

Pinkston said he was unsure of a timetable for presenting the bills,
which an administration task force developed last year.

He said the governor's legislation also closes a loophole in a
criminal law that has allowed some people making meth to avoid
penalties by claiming it was for personal use only.

Pinkston described closing that loophole as the most costly measure in
the package, with a $2.5 million price tag annually for longer jail
sentences.

Tennessee Retail Association lobbyist Russell Palk said he was not
surprised by Bredesen's proposal to restrict sales of some products
with pseudoephedrine.

"Retailers are ready to abide by that," Palk said.

Oklahoma has successfully curtailed meth-making with such a law, and
Pfizer Inc. next month plans to start selling an alternative
decongestant that does not contain pseudoephedrine.

Palk said his members oppose restricting pseudoephedrine products that
are not commonly used to make meth. And he says the law will create
problems for pharmacists.

"When you ask us to put 200 or 300 products behind the counter in an
already crowded pharmacy we have a logistics problem," he said.

Meth can be cooked using pseudoephedrine cold tablets, red phosphorous
from matchbook strike plates, ether from engine starter, iodine and
sulfuric acid from drain cleaner.

Tennessee is among 14 states picked by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services to receive grants for expanded drug abuse
treatment, and Bredesen has said part of the $17.8 million will be
used for meth addicts.

There are restrictions on how the money is used.

"Right now the treatment issue is the most complex to deal with,"
Pinkston said. "It is real expensive. There is lots of disagreement in
general about how best to approach methamphetamine addiction."

He said there are conflicting views about outpatient treatment and
longer "inpatient attention." He said there is an "emerging belief
that effective treatment will have some inpatient component and needs
to be at least a 12-month approach."

Pinkston said one approach might be starting "residential drug
courts." He said money would be included in the budget for a pilot
program affiliated with the drug court in Davidson County.

He said that program could "bring in meth offenders from other parts
of the state and monitor them and if it looks like they are having
success, then helping fund and establish drug courts" in other
communities.

Pinkston said the governor's package also will include a measure that
would create a statewide registry of properties contaminated by
meth-making operations.

The clandestine labs are considered hazardous waste and federal
environmental officials have said they don't typically monitor them
after an initial cleanup. State agencies have no rules for follow-up
inspections to make sure properties are safe for future occupants.

In 2003, Tennessee had 1,083 cleanups - more than any other state.

Records show U.S. taxpayers spent more than $37 million on meth lab
cleanups in 2002-2003.

"If anything it is getting worse," Pinkston said.
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