Pubdate: Tue, 20 Mar 2001
Source: Fort Madison Daily Democrat (IA)
Copyright: 2000 The Democrat Company
Contact:  P. O. Box 160, 1226 Avenue H, Fort Madison, Iowa, 52627
Fax: (319) 372-3867
Website: http://www.dailydem.com/
Author: Congressman Leonard Boswell, D-Third District Iowa
Note: Congressman Boswell's Washington, DC, office phone number is 202-225-3806

CAUCUS WILL HEIGHTEN METH AWARENESS

I have often said methamphetamine use is the greatest threat to Iowans that 
I have seen in my lifetime. Our rural communities have never incurred an 
invasion like they are today. Every community has had its share of problems 
with drugs, but we have never had to teach our children about the telltale 
smell of a meth lab and warn them of the dangers associated with the 
mini-toxic waste dump that is an abandoned meth lab.

Meth remains the drug of choice in Iowa because it is easy to manufacture 
and complex drug cartels have flooded the market.

Last year, Iowa's Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) seized almost 
40,000 grams of meth worth nearly $4 million. On a national level, the Drug 
Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates more than 60 percent of all meth labs 
are located in ordinary homes and abandoned farmsteads in rural and 
residential areas, making it difficult for police to detect.

I, along with Representatives Brian Baird (D-Wa.), Ken Calvert (R-Ca.) and 
Chris Cannon (R-Ut.), formed a bipartisan congressional caucus to bring the 
growing nationwide problems and dangers associated with the abuse and 
production of methamphetamine to the attention of members of Congress. The 
working group, already composed of 35 members from both sides of the aisle, 
will formally be titled the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control 
Methamphetamine (Meth).

I have met with numerous law enforcement officials and learned firsthand 
the devastation of this dangerous drug. Iowans have been keyed into the 
problem for a number of years, but I believe the focus has slipped. One of 
my top priorities for forming the caucus is to create national awareness 
about the destruction Iowans have seen because of meth.

Last year, 658 clandestine meth labs were seized in Iowa. The number is up 
from 500 labs seized in 1999. These labs pose extreme environmental and 
explosive hazards. Each pound of meth produced leaves behind five to six 
pounds of toxic waste. The average cost of a cleanup is about $5,000 but 
can cost up to $150,000.

The problem has not gone away. Iowans and the nation should remain focused 
on eliminating meth abuse. We cannot allow this crisis to continue.

If you have comments or are having difficulty with a federal agency, call 
my office toll-free, 1-888-432-1984.
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MAP posted-by: Beth