Pubdate: Tue, 02 Aug 2005
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Section: Pg A2
Copyright: 2005 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Charlotte Eby
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

IOWA METH LABS REDUCED BY 75 PERCENT

New Law Seems To Have Curbed Meth Production

DES MOINES - The number of illegal methamphetamine labs in Iowa dropped a 
dramatic 75 percent in the first two months after the state tightened 
restrictions on the sale of pseudoephedrine, officials said Monday.

Gov. Tom Vilsack, who calls the new law the toughest in the nation, said he 
and other state officials had not predicted the law would be so effective 
so soon.

Pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold and allergy remedies, is also 
the key ingredient in making the illegal and highly addictive narcotic 
known as meth.

Vilsack said he has not heard major complaints about the new sales 
restrictions on pseudoephedrine and that retailers who might oppose the 
limits cannot refute statistics showing how successful they have been.

"No matter how much the profit motives may generate concern about this law, 
the reality is this law is working," he said.

The sales restrictions, which went into effect May 21, require consumers to 
make all but the smallest purchases of drugs containing pseudoephedrine at 
a pharmacy. Customers also are required to show identification and register 
their pseudoephedrine purchases in a log.

 From the beginning of May through July 29, a total of 70 reported meth 
labs were discovered in the state. That is down from a reported 286 during 
the same three-month period last year.

Vilsack, joined by Iowa law enforcement officials at a news conference 
Monday, urged federal lawmakers not to hamper Iowa's efforts with a 
less-stringent federal anti-meth measure that is moving through Congress.

"They want to weaken the law," he said. "They want to provide less 
protection, they want to provide more exemptions. They want to provide more 
flexibility in terms of being able to get pseudoephedrine."

Vilsack said that when Congress reconvenes next month, he will be watching 
closely to see what it does with anti-meth legislation.

"I'm fine with a federal law, so long as it's as strong or stronger than 
the state law. But at this point and time, I'm not assured of that, so let 
my law alone," he added.

Rep. Lance Horbach, R-Tama, who had pushed for a less-stringent Iowa law, 
said retailers are just beginning to register complaints from customers.

"I still think we could have had a little bit less convenience issue for 
the citizen and still received the same or very close positive results that 
we're seeing today," he added.

Ken Carter, director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, said 
fewer meth labs means drug enforcement officials can spend more time 
addressing the problem of meth that comes across Iowa borders. The vast 
majority of the meth supply, or about 80 percent, is from outside the state.

"We're very concerned about what's being imported in this state, and now we 
can better focus our attentions on that," he said.

Vilsack said the state needs to push forward with other strategies to fight 
the meth problem and must continue seeking long-term treatment for meth 
addicts.

U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, is in favor of allowing states such as Iowa 
to keep their strict pseudoephedrine laws.

Nussle, who is running for governor, and U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, have 
co-sponsored a bill that, Nussle said, would use Iowa's law as a model for 
the nation.

The longtime congressman from Manchester said he is not sympathetic toward 
retailers such as Wal-Mart or drug companies that might have complaints 
about the law.

"They have to recognize that we're in a struggle, that, whether they like 
it or not, they are being used as an outlet for creating this kind of 
substance," Nussle said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth