Pubdate: Sun, 30 Dec 2001
Source: Cleveland Daily Banner (TN)
Copyright: 2001 Cleveland Daily Banner
Contact:  http://www.clevelandbanner.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/947
Author: Fred Thompson
Note: Fred Thompson is serving his second term in the U.S. Senate, 
representing the voters of Tennessee.

METHAMPHETAMINE SPREADING IN STATE

Methamphetamine, commonly called Meth, is a drug many people had never 
heard of until recent years. Yet it has spread through our state at a 
dangerous rate, taking a toll on our people, our environment, and our local 
governments.

Congress has taken action to combat Methamphetamine, recently providing $20 
million to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and 
across the country with the cleanup of toxic meth labs.

The production of Methamphetamine, a dangerous chemical process carried out 
in labs often hidden in private homes, many times results in chemical 
explosions and fires. While dangerous to manufacturers and users who face 
serious burns and long-term consequences including lung disease and rotting 
teeth, children living side-by-side with labs are affected as well.

Tennessee investigators arrested several adults on child abuse and neglect 
charges earlier this year after young children were discovered in homes and 
apartments housing labs. In the worst of these cases, a small child died in 
February of cardiac arrest reportedly caused by complications from severe 
burns suffered during a meth lab explosion.

Methamphetamine production also threatens our environment, with five or six 
pounds of toxic waste generated by every pound of meth produced. And the 
cleanup of just one meth lab costs from $3,000 to $100,000, depleting the 
financial resources of our local communities.

Tennessee law enforcement officials have actively responded to the meth 
problem, shutting down labs and arresting manufacturers and distributors. 
In Dunlap during a three-day meth crackdown in October, Sequatchie County 
Sheriffs investigators confiscated at least four working meth labs leading 
to 13 arrests.

In September, members of the Marion County Drug Task Force destroyed 
approximately 30 labs and arrested 58 people on charges ranging from 
possession of marijuana to manufacturing meth. According to the National 
Drug Intelligence Center, 510 meth labs were seized in Tennessee between 
January 1999 and July 2001.

With the funds set aside by Congress, in addition to a $1 million grant 
pledged to Southeast Tennessee by the Department of Justice, our local law 
enforcement officers will be able to continue eradicating these labs and 
protecting our environment without draining limited resources from our 
local communities.

Meth is a dangerous drug, not only for what it does to users and 
manufacturers, but also for what it does to the innocent bystanders who are 
dragged into its path. Finding and destroying labs is the first step in 
combating the underworld of Methamphetamine and I'm very pleased Congress 
is supporting these efforts.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom