Pubdate: Mon, 07 Feb 2005
Source: Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2005 Southeast Missourian
Contact:  http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH FIGHT GOES NATIONAL

Missouri's fight against methamphetamine is going national at a time
when more cities are facing problems with the illegal and easy-to-make
drug.

U.S. Sen. Jim Talent is promoting a bipartisan Combat Meth Act in
Congress that would force all pseudoephedrine-containing drugs to be
placed behind a pharmacy's counter. The bill also would allocate $30
million for the drug fight across the nation.

The legislation is similar to a law already in place in Oklahoma.
Under the proposed federal bill, pseudoephedrine could only be sold by
a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, even though a prescription
wouldn't be necessary.

Buyers would have a limit on the amount of drug they could purchase at
one time, be required to show proof of identification and sign a registry.

It used to be that meth problems were found in rural areas of the
country, but it's becoming an urban scourge as well. Cities like
Atlanta, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., are seeing an upswing in
meth users. The drug's long-lasting effect is part of its appeal, and
the number of users and addicts is overtaking those hooked on cocaine,
drug-enforcement officials say.

Talent knows that national legislation wouldn't end the drug problem,
nor will it stop production of meth, but it could stop smaller
operations and keep drug makers out of some neighborhoods.

Anything that makes it harder for illegal drug makers to get the
ingredients for methamphetamine is a good idea as communities across
the nation struggle with how to combat this problem.
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MAP posted-by: Derek