Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jul 2005
Source: Grants Pass Daily Courier (OR)
Copyright: 2005 Courier Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.thedailycourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3528
Author: State Rep. Dennis Richardson

THE OREGON METH CRISIS AND THE LEGISLATURE

Oregon State Representative Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) 
Discusses The Meth Epidemic In Oregon And Legislation Dealing With It 
 From A Father's And A State Representative's Perspectives

Salem, Oregon - Sometimes when my adult children get together, they 
will laugh and tease me with what they affectionately refer to as 
"Dadisms". "Dadisms" are what my kids viewed as lectures I intended 
as words of wisdom and sage advice--repeated many times during their 
growing years.

Some of the "Dadisms" referred to taking drugs.

I taught my teen-agers if you never start something, you never have 
to worry about stopping it...that drugs may make someone feel good 
for awhile, but the price is addiction and slavery, and it just isn't 
worth it. I told my teens that I never want to try cocaine because I 
might like it too much, and that could destroy me and our family.

I taught each of my nine children that they had infinite worth and 
potential, and they should take nothing into their bodies that could 
end up controlling them. Finally, I told them that we are all 
creatures of habit and we should work on making good habits and 
avoiding bad ones.

All of this sounds pretty basic, and it is. I still, however, believe 
these lessons are good advice for myself, for my family and for 
everyone. Unfortunately, thousands of Oregonians fail to heed such 
advice and suffer broken lives by drug addiction.

In Oregon, today's most dangerous drug is Methamphetamine. (For a 
brief description of Meth, click here. 
(http://www.dennisrichardson.org/what_is_meth.htm) For a summary of 
facts and figures on Meth use, click here. 
(http://www.dennisrichardson.org/methfacts.htm) )

Meth is a siren's song that seduces her prey with promises of 
pleasure, energy, heightened senses, sexuality and stamina.

In reality, Meth addiction is a cruel taskmaster that enslaves 
adults, abuses children, destroys families and burdens society with 
the high price of picking up pieces of shattered lives.

If a picture is worth a thousand words then take a look at the 
"before and after" photos of a woman who traded her well-being for 
Methamphetamine. (click here 
(http://www.estatevaults.com/bol/images/%20%20before%20and%20after.jpg)

Before this legislative session ends, 90 legislators will strive to 
agree on legislation dealing with Oregon's Meth epidemic.

For months, the Chairs of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Wayne 
Krieger, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Ginny Burdick, have 
studied Oklahoma and other state Meth laws, have heard days of expert 
testimony, and have reviewed dozens of legislative bills proposed to 
address Oregon's Meth crisis.

After coordinating the House and Senate's Meth efforts, the final 
drafts of two Meth Bills are complete.

The Senate is proposing S.B. 907, and today, my Subcommittee on Human 
Services and Public Safety reviewed, funded and passed House Bill 2485.

H.B. 2485 has three main thrusts: 1. Managing Meth's dangerous toxic 
waste; 2. Controlling Meth's dangerous chemical components; and 3. 
Providing tools for treatment of Meth addicts. (click here to see the 
bill (http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2485.1ha.pdf)

1. Toxic Waste. Manufacturing a single pound of Meth may results in 
six to ten pounds of toxic waste.

The toxic waste includes: acid vapors, corrosive liquids, solvents, 
heavy metals, etc. The toxicity of Meth lab residue can cause death 
or disfigurement if breathed or comes in contact with skin or other membranes.

Illegal Meth manufacturing operators generally dispose of toxic Meth 
lab residue by illegal dumping which severely pollutes the 
environment and creates dangerous conditions for unsuspecting hikers 
and children.

H.B. 2485 makes dumping toxic Meth manufacturing residue a Class 3 
Felony. It requires landowners to "abate" the dangerous condition 
within 180 days of discovery or be liable for the failure to do so. A 
"good Samaritan" provision holds harmless from liability anyone who 
in good faith reports what is suspected to be criminal activity 
relating to Meth and its manufacture.

2. Meth Chemical Components. One of the dangers of Meth is the ease 
of access to its ingredients. Today Meth ingredients generally 
include chemicals that can be bought at any Wal-Mart. Such 
ingredients include: ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which are found in 
many over-the-counter cold medications. In addition, red phosphorous 
(obtained from matches), plus battery acid, draino, liquid 
antifreeze, lantern fuel, lye, and last but not least, anhydrous 
ammonia, which comes from certain fertilizers. Sound appetizing? 
Certain of these elements and chemicals are called "precursors". They 
are used in making methamphetamine and must be regulated if we are to 
interrupt the supply lines for Oregon's "Mom and Pop" Meth lab operations.

H.B. 2485 makes owning and illegally trafficking in Meth making 
equipment and obscure "precursors," such as lithium metal and sodium 
metal, a Class C Felony. More controversial is the provision that 
adds ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to the Schedule III Controlled 
Substance list. At first I objected to the idea of requiring folks to 
call their family Doctor in order to have their favorite cold medicine.

Things got quiet when asked to suggest an effective alternative way 
to get these dangerous Meth making materials out of the hands of 
local lab operators. I supported placing the relevant medications 
behind store counters. I then learned that "Mom & Pop" lab operators 
are tenacious people who go from store to store buying, bartering or 
stealing pseudoephedrine medicines, until they have enough to make 
another batch of Meth.

The clincher for me was when I learned that nearly 75% of the 
pseudoephedrine medicines consumed in Oregon today are by Meth lab 
operators, not sickly citizens with runny noses.

Drastic times require drastic measures, so if it takes getting 
pseudoephedrine medicines off the shelves to significantly cut down 
on Meth production in Oregon, then so be it.

Before anyone frets over the loss of Oregon life as we know it, 
please refer to the following vast list of cold/flu medications that 
will remain over-the-counter, because they do not have in them 
pseudoephedrine or ephedrine: (Click Here 
(http://www.dennisrichardson.org/nonmeth_meds.htm) For those who must 
have medication with these Meth making precursors in them, a quick 
call to your Doctor for a telephone prescription will allow your 
pharmacist to provide the chemical relief cold remedies to which you 
have become accustomed.

3.Tools for Treating Meth Addicts. Breaking the Meth habit is not 
easy, and our law enforcement agencies and judiciary system need 
additional tools at their disposal.

One of the most effective strategies is the use of drug courts.

Drug courts are special county circuit courts that focus the judge's 
power of incarceration on creating a plan to help the addict change 
his or her life. If addicts are willing to follow the requirements 
set down by the judge, the addicts have a chance to avoid both losing 
their families and serving long prison sentences.

When drug courts can partner with "Crisis and Relief Nurseries," the 
chances of breaking strong drug addictions and keeping families 
together are further improved. (Note: Southern Oregon has a serious 
Meth addiction problem, and if all goes well this session, Jackson 
County will soon have its own Drug Court and Medford will have its 
own Relief Nursery.)

H.B. 2485 provides the threat of losing Food Stamp benefits for drug 
addicts, so long as the loss will not cause excessive hardship on 
family members. It also provides $2.5 million in "drug court grants" 
to assist local communities in effectively using drug courts to fight 
against Meth addiction. The bill has many more provisions, but the 
above information is intended to provide an overview of this 
important legislation.

In conclusion, H.B. 2485 is not a panacea.

It is a step in the right direction toward a calculated, 
evidence-based battle plan to help fight Oregon's war on Meth. It may 
take a generation to win this war, and legislation like H.B. 2485 can 
help. But, the real victories will take place in strong, healthy 
families where parents teach their children by both precept 
("Dadisms") and by example--that addictions are bad, that addictions 
rob individuals and families of happiness and freedom, and that good 
habits should be made and bad ones avoided.

Sincerely,

Dennis Richardson

State Representative, Speaker Pro Tempore

Contact Rep. Richardson at  ---
MAP posted-by: Beth