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