Pubdate: Sun, 21 Jan 2007
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2007 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

S. IDAHO LAWMAKER PLANS TO PUSH METH-MOMS BILL

A state senator from southern Idaho intends to try again to pass a 
law making it a felony for pregnant women to use methamphetamine or 
other illegal drugs.

Last year, Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Delco, got the bill through the 
Senate but couldn't get it heard in the House. Under the bill, a 
pregnant woman convicted of using meth, marijuana, LSD or other drugs 
would have faced up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

"I'm still feeling my way on it," Darrington told the Idaho State 
Journal. "The alternative seems to be to do nothing, and it seems 
like that's what (the House of Representatives) wants to do."

A provision in the bill would have allowed women to take part in the 
state's drug-court system, which tries to help drug users who commit 
crimes to stop using drugs and begin productive lives.

However, pediatricians were against the bill because they thought it 
would lead to less prenatal care and more abortions.

To try and satisfy some of those concerns, Darrington said he plans 
to meet with Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, who is chairman of the 
House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do," Darrington said. "I don't 
know how much I can change it."

Darrington said he and Clark also want to formalize the Office of 
Drug Control Policy, which was created by former Gov. Jim Risch last 
summer. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has appointed Debbie Field to head 
the office, a position being referred to as "drug czar."

"(The legislation) doesn't use the word drug czar, but that's what 
we're going to call her," Darrington said.

The number of meth labs busted in Idaho dropped to 21 in 2005 from 
131 in 2001. But authorities say methamphetamine is mostly being 
imported into the state from Mexico.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman