Pubdate: Tue, 15 Feb 2005
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2005 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact: 
http://gotricities.net/domains/timesnews.net/lettertoEditor.dna?action=new
Website: http://www.timesnews.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS SHOULD HEED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMBATING METH

When it comes to government committees, Gov. Bredesen's task force on 
methamphetamine abuse, convened last summer, did a very rare thing. It 
delivered on a straightforward, common sense strategy to quell the growing 
methamphetamine epidemic in Tennessee.

Now, it's up to the legislature to craft those recommendations into 
effective legislation. And the clock is ticking.

There's little doubt that methamphetamine abuse and clandestine meth labs 
pose a grave threat to children. In its last report on the subject, the 
Department of Children's Services reported that in roughly a year's time, 
more than 750 children were placed in state custody as a result of 
methamphetamine laboratory seizures and incidents. Particularly at risk are 
infants and toddlers living in homes in which toxic lab emissions are present.

There are other illegal drugs out there, but meth's manufacture and 
addiction rates make it a unique drug danger to community health and the 
environment. And that danger increases daily. Last year, law enforcement 
authorities seized more than 1,200 labs in the state - a 400 percent 
increase from 2000.

As a result of this explosive, exponential growth, Tennessee now accounts 
for a staggering 75 percent of all the meth lab seizures in the entire 
southeastern United States.

The problems of meth production and addiction are complex. But the 
governor's task force approached them in a thoughtful, thorough manner, 
delivering approximately three dozen detailed recommendations as part of a 
preliminary plan that contains seven fundamental cornerstones for an 
effective strategy.

The basic cornerstones include increasing funding for meth treatment with 
an eye toward long-term initiatives, educating communities about the 
dangers of abuse, creating and strengthening penalties for meth-related 
crimes and committing resources to help children harmed by abuse.

The panel, which delivered its recommendations ahead of schedule, not only 
did its job superbly but in acting as swiftly as it did it also recognized 
that time is of the essence.

As the 104th Tennessee General Assembly settles down to work, it remains to 
lawmakers to take these proposals and make them work as envisioned.

Based on the experience of other states, one of the best things Tennessee 
lawmakers could do to put a serious crimp in this criminal activity is to 
restrict the sale of a popular class of cold medicines.

Legislation that would restrict the sale of products containing 
pseudoephedrine, an essential ingredient in illegal meth manufacture solely 
to pharmacies, where it would be kept behind the counter, would be a great 
first step. As well, a general public advertising campaign to alert 
residents to the tell-tale signs of meth manufacture in their communities 
would be money well spent.

The state has established a Web site, MethFree Tennessee 
http://www.methfreetn.org that should also help educate the public about 
meth dangers.

Given the immense scope of the problem, fighting illegal meth labs and the 
poisonous product they make won't be easy. But lawmakers should not turn 
aside from this effort simply because it is difficult, nor stint on the 
funding needed to eradicate it.

Given the appropriate legislative response and the resources to back it up 
on the local level, we have the means to begin a much needed counterattack 
against this pernicious adversary.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom