Pubdate: Fri, 13 May 2005
Source: Lufkin Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. - The Lufkin Daily News
Contact:  http://www.lufkindailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3616
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH LABS

The use of methamphetamine has skyrocketed in recent years. This highly 
addictive drug is inexpensive, easy to manufacture and has devastated the 
lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Meth addicts are more likely 
to abuse or neglect their children, to commit crimes to finance their 
habits, and to eventually end up in emergency rooms – because of the 
havoc the drug wreaks on their bodies.

There is no single solution to this cancer upon our society. Education, 
strict enforcement of laws, especially against distributors, and expansion 
of treatment programs are just three prongs of a multi-facted approach. But 
certainly another key is limiting the availability of the key ingredient in 
meth, which is pseudoephedrine-based products, such as Sudafed. Meth labs, 
which can be easily set up in motel rooms, kitchens and even the back seat 
of cars, "cook" the cold-remedy medicines down, often cutting it with 
highly volatile chemicals to create meth. Stories abound about meth addicts 
haunting 24-hour discount stores in the early morning hours, buying up 
armloads of Sudafed and related products.

A bill passed by the Texas Senate Wednesday would restrict access to cold 
remedies that contain pseudoephedrine by putting them behind counters or in 
locked cabinets. One would not have to have a prescription to purchase 
Sudafed or similar products, but at least a pharmacist would be able to 
make a reasonable evaluation of whether the customer had a legitimate 
reason to buy the medicine.

Similar laws in other states have cut down on the number of meth labs being 
operated, which is one reason Texas is seeing an increase in such labs 
– as the meth suppliers move to states that don't restrict Sudafed 
sales. We hope the House will also approve the Senate measure. It's not a 
panacea, but it certainly is a common-sense attempt to make meth production 
more difficult.

On a related note, state Rep. Roy Blake Jr., R-Nacogdoches, co-authored a 
bill passed by the House that would make meth manufacturers liable for 
damages caused from labs catching on fire or exploding. That is yet another 
hazard of this scourge. We have published a number of stories of houses 
destroyed by a meth lab explosion, or motel rooms damaged. Even if there's 
not a fire, cleaning up a motel room after it's been used for a meth lab is 
akin to cleaning a toxic-waste dump.

Blake's bill, which has been sent to the Senate, would give law enforcement 
and property owners one more tool to try to recoup damages from meth 
producers. We hope it becomes law.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth