Pubdate: Mon, 29 Sep 2014
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2014 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact: http://www.newsok.com/voices/guidelines
Website: http://newsok.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Page: 8A

WAR FAR FROM OVER IN FIGHT AGAINST METH USE

WHEN government closes a window, the market opens a door. Sadly, this 
describes the methamphetamine problem in Oklahoma.

This state has been a national leader in the meth manufacturing 
crackdown, finding ways to restrict the purchase of ingredients used 
to cook meth. But as fewer meth "labs" are being found and shut down 
by state authorities, the number of meth-related overdose deaths 
continues to rise.

The reason is that the domestic supply disruption has been met with a 
foreign supply influx. This isn't a new development, but the latest 
numbers are startling. Meth demand isn't going down, but the supply 
chain has added more links to Mexico.

Meth labs shut down by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous 
Drugs (OBNDD) fell from 830 in 2012 to 421 in 2013. Meth overdose 
deaths rose from 140 in 2012 to 167 last year.

Meth users are buying product brought in by Mexican cartels. This is 
happening partly in response to the home-grown meth lab crackdown. 
Also, the Mexican stuff's quality is apparently improving.

"The Mexican cartels are filling the void left by these people who 
still need meth but can't cook it anymore," said Mark Woodward, 
spokesman for OBNDD.

Fewer labs mean fewer accidents such as explosions and fires that 
destroy property and harm people not involved in the meth cook 
itself. That's the good news. The bad is that such labs still exist 
and users are dying at an increasing rate: The 167 meth overdose 
deaths last year compares to 40 in 2008.

Meanwhile, a legislator is pushing a registry for those convicted of 
meth manufacturing. State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, likens this to 
the sex offender registry. In principle, citizens can learn whether 
any registered sex offenders live near their homes. In practice, 
though, this method has shortcomings. Resources must be found to keep 
track of offenders, to make sure they report address changes. Also, 
the system can concentrate offenders in certain areas in which 
landlords look the other way when renting residential space. Such 
concentrations expose nearby residents to a higher risk if they can't 
move to a safer area.

The war on drugs continues apace but in the case of meth is shifting 
from restrictions on pseudoephedrine purchases and lab shutdowns to 
tracking drug shipments from Mexico. OBNDD agents, freed from some of 
their lab crackdown duties, have more time to work against the cartels.

This is likely a never-ending battle - or war. The Drug Policy 
Alliance, a critic of the so-called war on drugs, says many myths 
surround meth - including that it's always instantly addictive, meth 
addictions are harder to treat than other substance abuse addictions, 
and meth use is on the rise nationwide.

Other sources paint a different picture, one in which meth is highly 
addictive, addictions are difficult to treat and meth use is not 
static. If the OBNDD's fatal overdose statistics are to be believed, 
then the meth problem in Oklahoma is not getting better.

In our view, no amount of meth intake is healthy. While not all meth 
overdoses result in a fatality, meth usage leads to continuing health problems.

We applaud the OBNDD and state policymakers for their diligence in 
fighting the meth scourge. It's clear that the battle to reduce 
makeshift labs is being won, but the war is far from over.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom