Pubdate: Tue, 27 Dec 2005
Source: Tribune Star (Terre Haute, IN)
Copyright: 2005 Tribune-Star Publishing Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.tribstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/448
Author: Joanne Hammer, Tribune-Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

NEW METH LAWS LEAD TO MEDICINE LOCKUP

Shoppers in Vigo County adjusted to a new way they  bought cold and 
allergy medicines this year.

Beginning in January, over-the-counter drugs such as  Sudafed and 
Claritin-D were no longer on the shelf but  behind a store counter or 
in a locked case.

Vigo County's methamphetamine ordinance, which took  effect Jan. 24, 
limited selling more than two packages  of drugs containing 
pseudoephedrine or ephedrine within  a seven-day period. It also 
required customers to show  a photo identification and sign a log 
book if they  bought the drugs without a prescription.

Wabash Valley law enforcement officials believe there  is a direct 
link to the ordinance and fewer  methamphetamine labs - last year the 
county seized 166  labs and this year, by mid-December, 62 labs were 
seized, according to statistics from the Vigo County  Drug Task Force.

We noticed the very next month, in February, a  drop in meth labs," 
said Vigo County Sheriff Jon  Marvel.

Inmate population related to methamphetamine charges,  whether 
dealing, possession or manufacturing, also has  decreased.

About a year and a half ago, 80 percent of those in  jail were there 
on a methamphetamine-related charge,  said Marvel, citing a jail 
survey. In early December  2005, less than 30 percent were 
incarcerated for the  same charges, he said.

Law enforcement officers statewide have seen fewer  methamphetamine labs.

In 2004, police dismantled 1,549 labs compared to 939  labs 
dismantled from January to the end of November,  according to the 
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Indiana's law, Senate Enrolled Act 444, mirrors Vigo  County's 
ordinance and took effect in July. Since Vigo  County's ordinance was 
passed in 2004, it was not  affected by the state law, which would 
not allow local  governments to pass their own ordinances after  February.

State law prohibits anyone from buying more than three  grams of 
pseudoephedrine within seven days and requires  retailers to keep the 
drugs behind the counter, in a  locked case or directly in front of a 
pharmacy counter  with video surveillance.

It also mandated specific protocols when police find  meth labs, 
including notifying the Division of Family  and Children if a child 
is at the scene. A statewide  Meth Watch education program was 
launched for retailers  and consumers throughout the state.

Vigo County's ordinance is stricter than the state's  because it 
requires retailers to obtain a permit to  sell the products and give 
the log to police for  tracking purposes. Since February, the county 
has used  P&S Consulting Inc. to record and track 
pseudoephedrine  and ephedrine purchases.

Since the county's ordinance has been in effect, Vigo  County Drug 
Task Force has made 31 citations for  ordinance violations, said 
Detective Paul Hartzler.  Four of the citations were written to 
businesses for  violating the ordinance and four were written for 
state  law violations, he said. Two individuals who were cited  for 
an ordinance violation were arrested because they  also were charged 
with manufacturing methamphetamine,  Hartzler said.

Before the state law was passed, some retailers decided  to move cold 
medicine products off the shelves and  behind the counters. When the 
county ordinance was  passed, 500 Express decided to pull 
pseudoephedrine and  ephedrine products from their stores.

Other organizations attempted to end the devastation  caused by meth 
addiction by creating new treatment  programs.

The Indiana Department of Correction formed a Clean  Lifestyle is 
Freedom Forever (CLIFF) program for  inmates this year. CLIFF units 
opened at Miami  Correctional Facility, Wabash Valley Correctional 
Facility and Rockville Correctional Facility.

A grant will enable Vigo County Community Corrections  to work with 
the Hamilton Center in 2006 to provide  services for those released 
from the IDOC who need  continued treatment, said Bill Watson, 
director of Vigo  County Community Corrections. The partnership also 
will  provide treatment services for those who have 
a  methamphetamine addiction and are sentenced to the  work-release 
program, once the new building at First  and Ohio streets is open at 
the beginning of the year.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman