Pubdate: Thu, 11 Aug 2005
Source: Pantagraph, The  (IL)
Copyright: 2005 The Pantagraph
Contact:  http://www.pantagraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/643
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FOLLOW TWIN CITY MODEL FOR METH-FIGHTING SEMINAR

More formal training seminars patterned after two in the Twin Cities are 
needed statewide to educate retail clerks about restrictions on sales of 
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-based products.

The restrictions are part of an Illinois law that took effect Jan. 1. The 
primary purpose is to restrict access to over-the-counter medicines that 
can be used to manufacture the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

The law requires retailers to prove their clerks are trained in the sale of 
these products. But it leaves the training up to businesses.

Dozens of people attended the two sessions in the Twin Cities, which were 
initiated by state Rep. Dan Brady and conducted by police and a 
representative of the attorney general's office. The participants will be 
able to share what they learned with others at their businesses.

Brady, R-Bloomington, helped organize this month's seminars after clerks at 
14 of 20 Twin City businesses hit in a sting operation in May didn't follow 
the law. In comparison, only four of 37 Peoria and Tazewell County 
businesses failed in a similar sting.

A lack of understanding about the requirements seemed to be the biggest 
problem, not a deliberate disregard for the law. That's why the seminar can 
be effective and important. The requirements include limits on the number 
of packages of a product that can be purchased and restrictions on where 
the products can be displayed.

Other states have similar laws and federal regulations are under 
consideration. The intent is to make it more difficult to obtain a key 
ingredient for the illegal manufacture of meth.

It is important to get the word out about the requirements -- and not just 
to save employees or business owners from fines that could range from $100 
to $500 on a first offense.

By ensuring better compliance through training, officials will be more 
likely to achieve the law's goal of making it harder for meth manufacturers 
to get the ingredients they need.

Cara Smith of the attorney general's office, who participated in the two 
seminars as well as many of the stings statewide, said the training is 
important.

Once business owners and their employees understand the reason for the law 
and why they can make a difference in the fight against meth, they are more 
motivated to follow the law, she said.

Smith would like to see similar seminars all over the state, following the 
model used in Bloomington-Normal. She thinks her office will be able to 
work with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association to make that happen.

In the meantime, IRMA and other trade associations should do their best to 
get the word out. We commend Rep. Brady for taking the initiative in having 
the seminars here and encourage lawmakers in other areas to do the same.