Pubdate: Mon, 07 Feb 2005
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Contact:  2005 The Arizona Republic
Website: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH MESS

This Drug Breeds Ugly Dangers And Death In Our City

In the ugly world of addiction, meth is about the ugliest drug around.

Heavy users become violent and paranoid. They're often covered with
open sores from trying to gouge out "crank bugs," the insects they
imagine are crawling under their skin. Hallucinating and sleepless for
days on end, they commit horrifying crimes: A father beheading his
14-year-son, a cop shooting down two of his colleagues, a mother
stabbing her child more than 150 times.

The damage and danger extend far out into the community.
Methamphetamines fuel violent crime and theft. In 2002, one out of
three adult males arrested in the Phoenix area tested positive for
meth. The rate for women was even higher: 41 percent.

Producing meth is frighteningly easy, using products that anyone can
buy in local stores. The basic ingredients are over-the-counter cold
medicines containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed.

Some meth is produced in bulk in Mexico and smuggled over the border.
But a lot is cooked up in clandestine meth "labs" in houses,
apartments and hotel rooms all over Arizona. And they're a curse to
the state.

When police bust a home meth lab, they find an appalling collection of
filth, broken furniture and containers of dangerous substances, like
iodine. In 30 to 35 percent of the cases, these are residences with
children. They live in a place saturated with meth, breathe the fumes,
eat contaminated food and play with tainted toys. One out of three
tests positive for meth.

An entire neighborhood or apartment complex can be at risk. Producing
a pound of meth releases poisonous gases and creates 5 to 7 pounds of
toxic waste. Researchers are finding that the fumes spread widely.
Meth ingredients can also cause explosions and fires.

We need better ways to attack this plague.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is asking the Legislature to
adopt a broad range of meth-fighting measures.

These are promising, sensible steps that focus on preventing drug
production and protecting children.

They include:

   Making it hard for meth-makers to load up on pseudoephedrine.
Sudafed and similar products would be put behind the pharmacy counter,
along with the prescription drugs. Buyers would have to show a photo
I.D. and sign a register. Purchase quantities would be limited.

In Oklahoma, meth lab busts have dropped 70 percent since a similar
law was passed less than a year ago. The restriction is actually quite
narrow: Liquid and gel-cap forms of pseudoephedrine products would be
on the shelves, because they don't lend themselves to meth production.
In addition, Pfizer has introduced a variation of Sudafed, Sudafed PE,
that can't be turned into meth.

   Limiting access to other ingredients. Iodine sales would be limited
to a pint or less, and red phosphorous would be mostly off limits.
Anhydrous ammonia would have to be shipped in specified containers.

   Updating and expanding the child-abuse statute to punish meth
producers who "cook" with children present.

   Pushing the cleanup of meth labs, such as setting a 12-month time
limit for doing the job. Current law requires property owners to clean
up meth sites but has no deadline.

   Establishing a meth prevention and education program for
youth.

On Feb. 24, about a dozen attorneys general from Western states will
gather in Scottsdale for a one-day summit on meth, the first time
they've gathered to focus only on this drug.

That's likely to generate more ideas, strategic as well as
legislative, for combating meth.

As the saying goes, there is no silver bullet. But we can sure use
better ammunition.
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MAP posted-by: Derek