Pubdate: Mon, 10 Oct 2005
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2005 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: John Walters
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)

THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Meeting The Challenge Of The Meth Epidemic

Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is harming too many 
Americans. But the federal government, together with its state and 
local partners, is aggressively addressing this challenge.

Our efforts against meth have been unprecedented and increasingly 
effective. Further, we were engaged in actions well before the recent 
spate of media attention, and, in accord with our National Synthetic 
Drugs Action Plan, are bringing forward new programs. The facts speak 
for themselves.

Against meth use, we have new efforts in prevention and treatment. 
 From the launch of nationwide advertising in our media campaign 
specific to the dangers of meth, to fundamental brain research 
guiding our understanding of this drug's effects, to focused 
treatment initiatives leading users to recovery, we have new programs 
backed with budgetary commitments.

Against the problem of meth labs that produce toxic waste and place 
police and fire department responders in serious jeopardy, we have 
developed additional law enforcement and social services efforts that 
have transformed this threat. The number of meth "super labs" that 
relied on bulk diverted chemical precursors to make this poison has 
been driven down by more than 80 percent since 2001. Programs for 
drug-endangered children are now in 25 states, while interdiction and 
toxic cleanup efforts have trained more than 9,300 meth lab 
responders and cut the cost of lab remediation in some states by more 
than 80 percent. The president's budget proposal for the 2006 fiscal 
year requests additional resources for domestic law enforcement and 
treatment -- $3.36 billion (a 2 percent increase) and $3.25 billion 
(a 4.5 percent increase), respectively.

Finally, interventions against the diversion of retail medicines into 
so-called small toxic labs are beginning to turn what had been a 
rising tide. Where states have initiated programs to curtail 
diversion, lab seizures have begun to plummet, an outcome that will 
be strengthened by new federal legislation and voluntary industry-led programs.

As we are driving meth production out of our communities, an 
increasing proportion is now smuggled in from labs beyond our 
borders. Accordingly, we are stepping up our attack against meth 
traffickers as priority federal targets, strengthening our border 
interdictions and working internationally to stop the diversion of 
precursor chemicals into countries such as Canada and Mexico.

To be sure, we cannot ignore the threat that methamphetamine poses to 
communities across this nation. But neither can we ignore the 
progress that we are making. We know how to fight back against 
threats like this, with proven strategies that work. The most recent 
data on meth use (2004) showed two things: While the overall number 
of users was unchanged in the last two years (indicating that a 
continuing rapid rise in users was not found), the response of young 
people was especially positive. Past-year use of this drug by youth 
fell 33 percent. The message is getting out; this drug is a deadly 
trap from which young people are turning away.

Too many Americans are still harmed by methamphetamine. But strong 
and effective policies are not created by distortion of the facts.

John Walters is White House director of drug control policy.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman