Pubdate: Tue, 09 Aug 2005
Source: Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL)
Copyright: 2005 Southern Illinoisan
Contact:  http://www.TheSouthern.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1430
Author: Jim Muir
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DURBIN TACKLES METH 'SCOURGE'

BENTON - Calling methamphetamine a "terrible scourge," U.S. Sen. Dick 
Durbin held court in Benton Monday to discuss the myriad of problems 
associated with the illicit drug.

"When I ask local sheriffs and prosecutors what is the biggest problem they 
face, metham-phetamine comes up time and time again," Durbin said. "The 
battle against methamphetamine presents a tremendous challenge to the state 
of Illinois."

Durbin held the discussion on methamphetamine at the Franklin County 
Juvenile Detention Center, the second stop in deep Southern Illinois on a 
two-day swing through the region.

Durbin began his day at Richland Community College in Decatur, where he 
participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Farm Progress Center. He 
also made a stop at Vandalia where he held a news conference to announce 
federal funding for construction of a project that will upgrade U.S. 51 
from a two-lane highway to a four-lane system from Decatur to Centralia.

Prior to the Benton stop Durbin also held a similar press conference in 
Mount Vernon, where he announced funding to complete the upgrades to the 
access roads needed to open the second interchange that will improve access 
to Interstate 57 and Interstate 64 for the southwest portion of the city.

Durbin is co-sponsor of the Combat Meth Act, a bill that would authorize 
$860 million in funds nationwide to provide training to state, county and 
local prosecutors and law enforcement agents for investigation and 
prosecution of methamphetamine offenses.

The bill also includes a "set-aside" for prosecutors and law enforcement 
agents for rural communities and directs the Attorney General to allocate 
funds for the hiring and training of special assistant U.S. attorneys.

Durbin emphasized that while the money has been authorized, it has not yet 
been appropriated.

"Congress needs to recognize the problem and provide local law enforcement 
with the funds to help them combat meth-related crimes," Durbin said. 
"Pretending methamphetamine is a regional problem or a socio-economic 
problem is a grave mistake. Law enforcement is telling us they have a major 
problem on their hands. It's time for Congress to provide them with 
resources they need."

The diverse group in attendance then spelled out to Durbin the problems 
that have been experienced in recent years as the methamphetamine problem 
has reached epidemic proportions.

Problems posed to Durbin dealt with the availability of the precursors used 
to make methamphetamine, prosecution of those caught making and using the 
drug, and even the problem of both parents being arrested, leaving 
authorities to deal with small children.

Franklin County State's Attorney Tom Dinn has taken a zero-tolerance 
approach with those arrested on meth charges. But Dinn said prosecution of 
the cases has taxed his office and said stopping the flow of meth is unlike 
any other drug.

"It used to be that drugs operated like a chain and you could insert law 
enforcement at any link in that chain and be successful," Dinn said. "It's 
a home-grown drug; they just go to the store and buy the precursors they 
need and go home and make it. It's like a daisy; it starts in the middle 
and branches out. It's just very hard to get a handle on it."

Dinn also noted that stopping the flow of pseudoephedrine, what he called 
the only "essential ingredient" in producing methamphetamine, would also 
help in the slowing down the manufacture. Dinn said some states have made 
pseudoephedrine an "over the counter" purchase. Durbin said there has also 
been discussion to adopt federal standards concerning the purchase. Durbin 
also noted that approximately one-third of all foster care related cases 
and 50 percent of all domestic-violence-related cases statewide are 
connected to methamphetamine.

Dinn said approximately 40 cases of child abuse and neglect have been 
reported in Franklin County thus far this year and said 40 percent of those 
are meth-related.

Jake Seymour, who serves as director of court services for the Second 
Judicial Circuit, told Durbin Franklin County has received a $450,000 state 
grant to participate in a meth treatment pilot program.

Seymour said the program will be in place by this fall and emphasized that 
he believes education and treatment are crucial in curtailing the 
escalating meth use.

"I think what we need is more emphasis in trying to keep kids from getting 
involved in meth use," Seymour said. "There are no other programs like this 
in the state so we really are piloting this. It's not just kids that are 
already involved in crime getting involved. We've had kids that are 
cheerleaders and football players get involved and because of their family 
situation they didn't have to steal to get the drugs but they are still 
addicted."

Seymour said 7 percent of the juveniles (ages 10-16) who are processed 
through the Franklin County center are in custody on meth-related charges.

Durbin will continue his swing through Southern Illinois today with a 9:15 
a.m. meeting at the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he will 
discuss the facility's ability to serve new veterans from the conflicts in 
Iraq and Afghanistan

At 10:30 a.m. Durbin will meet with several local community college 
presidents at the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market in Herrin to 
discuss higher education public policy issues.

Durbin is also scheduled to make an appearance at the Dunn-Richmond Center 
in Carbondale and also attend the Southern Illinois Regional Social 
Services 45th Anniversary Open House at the Carbondale Civic Center on 
Tuesday afternoon.
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MAP posted-by: Beth