Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2005
Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times Daily
Contact:  http://www.timesdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641
Author: Tom Smith

OFFICIALS LAUD NEW STATE LAW IN METH BATTLE

Law enforcement officials agree a recently passed state law is a step in the
right direction in the war on methamphetamine.

"Ten years ago, no one had heard of meth, and now look at it,'' said
Lexington Police Chief Augie Hendershot.

"Anything that can be done needs to be done (in the battle against the
illegal drug),'' added Rector Johnson, director of the Marion County Drug
Task Force.

The new law, which goes into effect July 1, will require all nonprescription
cold tablets that have ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as the sole active
ingredient to be put behind the counter or in locked display cabinets at
pharmacies.

Tablets in which ephedrine or pseudoephedrine is one of several active
ingredients will either have to be placed behind the counter, in a locked
case, or kept under video surveillance.

Also, purchases will be limited to two packages or 6 grams at a time.

Purchasers will have to sign for the purchase and show photo identification
or two other forms of identification.

Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

"Anytime a drug addict or a dealer has a harder problem getting what they
need to make the illegal drug, the better it's going to be eliminating the
problem,'' said Curtis Burns, director of the Colbert County Drug Task
Force. "Meth is here, it's all around us and we need to do all we can to try
and control the problem.''

The new law will affect all retailers, including grocery, drug and
convenience stores that sell nonprescription cold and decongestant tablets
with at least 30 milligrams of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as the sole
ingredient.

"I think the new law will stop the easy access to getting the ingredients
needed to make meth,'' said Lawrence County Sheriff Bryan Hill. "Without
pseudoephedrine, (the dealers) can't make the meth. I'm glad the Legislature
is at least addressing the problem.''

Johnson said action by the Legislature shows that the state's policymakers
understand there is a problem.

"Hopefully, this will act as a deterrent in the meth increase,'' said
Lauderdale County Drug Task Force Director Myron Crunk. "We need to do all
we can in fighting this problem.''

Hendershot said the meth problem is on the verge of getting out of control.

"That's why I think this action is a step in the right direction,'' he said.
"If we don't look at how to control the ingredients to make meth, we'll lose
the fight all together.

"But it's going to take everyone stepping up to make a difference if we're
going to get a handle on this problem.''

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said he would like to see
legislators take the law another step and make it illegal to purchase
pseudoephedrine without a prescription.

"It has been done in Tennessee, and there has been a huge decrease in meth
labs and the use of meth,'' Rushing said. "(The new law) is a right step
toward real progress on trying to get the meth problem under control.

"It seems within the last couple of years the number of meth labs and the
number of people using meth have increased twofold. I'm pleased that the
Legislature took this first step and we're all looking forward to seeing
more positive steps like this from our state officials in the future.'' 
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