Pubdate: Fri, 13 May 2005
Source: Oshkosh Northwestern (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Gannett Co., Inc.
Contact: 
http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/contactus/readerservices/letter_to_editor.sh
Website: http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2640
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CONSUMERS JOIN ANTI-METH FORCES WITH NECESSARY LAW

Gov. Jim Doyle should sign a bill into law that will enlist consumers in 
the fight against illegal drug production.

A bill that passed the state Assembly and Senate, the "Crackdown on Meth 
Act," would restrict over-the-counter drugs that include pseudoephedrine, 
like Sudafed, which are used to produce methamphetamines. The matter isn't 
so much that Wisconsin has a huge meth problem, but a law like this can 
prevent Wisconsin's methamphetamine, or "meth," problems from growing.

Some stores have already restricted purchase of over-the-counter medicines 
known to be involved in producing meth, but their voluntary decision puts 
them at competitive disadvantage with stores that don't do this. A law that 
puts all vendors of a drug on the same competitive level is better for all 
businesses.

How big is the meth influence in Winnebago County? Low, for now. Five 
locations have been targets of police sting operations from 2001 through 
2004. Two of those locations actively produced meth, according to Brad 
Dunlap, project director for the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, the regional 
drug-fighting agency that includes Winnebago County.

A low threat, however, can become a bigger threat. There are signs that 
police enforcement in western Wisconsin has made our half of the state more 
enticing to meth producers.

Dunlap was at an anti-drug conference earlier this week where a Tulsa, 
Okla., speaker reported a "more than 60 percent" decrease in meth labs 
after a law like the "Crackdown on Meth Act" is put into effect. The 
message is clear: stay ahead of the problem and restrict drugs containing 
pseudoephedrine. We don't want such an increase in meth labs that we need 
to find out what a 60 percent decrease feels like.

Consumers who use drugs with pseudoephedrine for the right reasons will 
have small inconveniences. No more than 7.5 grams in 30 days will be able 
to be sold to one person. Possession of more than 9 grams will run afoul 
with the law. (Liquids and liquid filled gel caps won't be affected.)

Medicines containing pseudoephedrine won't be sold to people under 18. 
Customers will have to show photo identification and sign a log book before 
making a purchase. Viewing log books will be restricted to police officers 
and pharmacists.

All of this is necessary to give meth lab producers fewer options for 
states in which they can operate their labs. A law like this deters meth 
production from spreading into our state by making the raw materials to 
make meth harder to purchase.

Gov. Doyle should sign the "Crackdown on Meth Act" into law. Wisconsin 
doesn't want a reputation for meth production. It can do something before 
the situation gets any worse.

The Final Thought: Gov. Jim Doyle should sign the Crackdown on Meth Act 
into law.
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MAP posted-by: Beth