Pubdate: Tue, 23 Aug 2005
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Author: Mark Hollis, Tallahassee Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

GALLAGHER CALLS FOR TASK FORCES TO FIGHT METH

The State's Chief Financial Officer Wants Trust Funds To Pay For Battling 
The Drug

TALLAHASSEE -- Gina Prescott, a former drug addict, says she has seen too 
many women and children sleeping near toxic chemicals in grungy 
neighborhood meth labs.

Throughout Florida, where the number of known methamphetamine labs has 
increased tenfold from 1999 to 2004, law-enforcement authorities are 
scrambling to control the manufacture and use of the lethal homemade drug.

"I lived in filth and did things I wouldn't normally do," said Prescott, 
who is now a treatment counselor for meth addicts in North Florida's Holmes 
County. "I have seen a lot of devastation. I've seen good people's lives 
destroyed."

Florida's meth problem was reinforced Monday by Florida Chief Financial 
Officer Tom Gallagher, a Republican candidate for governor, who announced a 
series of proposals aimed at promoting better coordination among 
law-enforcement agencies in dealing with the drug problem.

Gallagher is urging the Legislature to create new law-enforcement task 
forces and state trust funds -- using existing federal dollars and 
forfeitures from arrested meth makers -- to pay for the cleanup of the labs 
and to buy equipment for police.

Gallagher, insisting the changes won't be costly to taxpayers, also called 
for certain new criminal penalties for meth-related crimes, the denial of 
bond for arrested meth producers, a toll-free state tip line and new 
policies encouraging the state's removal of children in homes where the 
drug is used or produced.

Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that has effects similar to cocaine 
but lasts longer and is cheaper. While the drug is used by addicts 
statewide, Jim McDonough, Florida's drug czar under Gov. Jeb Bush, said 
Florida meth labs typically are found in the Panhandle and rural Central 
Florida, such as in Polk County.

The number of labs the state has shut down has grown from about 30 in 2000 
to 332 last year. The state also has responded to more than 30 fires at 
meth labs, according to Gallagher, who serves as the state's fire marshal.

McDonough's office already has a statewide task force set up to combat meth 
use. Earlier this year, the Legislature dealt with the problem by making 
some common cold medicines available only from a pharmacist because the 
pills are a common ingredient in the manufacture of meth.

Gallagher, who is campaigning against Florida Attorney General Charlie 
Crist for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, contends the state 
should be doing more.

"Strong steps have already been taken," Gallagher said, "but we need to 
rapidly expand our response to combat this evil drug."

Mark Hollis is a reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune 
Publishing newspaper.
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