Drug courts will open in five Oklahoma counties and three other counties will expand under new money the Legislature approved earlier this year. More than $1.1 million in new money was approved for the 2004-05 fiscal year, which started July 1. Courts will open in Garfield, Stephens, Grady, Carter and Okmulgee counties. Courts operating in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Comanche counties will be expanded. Drug court costs average about $2,500 per person each year, state Rep. Jari Askins, D-Duncan, said in a written statement. To send an offender to prison costs about $17,000 each year. [continues 109 words]
" 'Poor man's cocaine' " (Feb. 9) draws a provocative conclusion that isn't substantiated by the facts presented. Although your subheadline claims "Growing number of youths are abusing Ritalin, law enforcement says," the body of the story acknowledges that N.C. and S.C. DEA agents say they've observed no problem, the DEA pharmacologist says it's hard to tell how much abuse is occurring and a national survey shows emergency room visits involving abuse of stimulants such as Ritalin have dropped by almost 50 percent since 1997. So are a growing number of youths really abusing Ritalin? Who knows? Certainly not the experts you quote. The few facts you offer suggest the situation may actually be improving. Bryan McNeill Charlotte [end]
The House Criminal Justice Committee passed a bill Tuesday seeking to control the flow of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine producers. "It all goes back to one thing: They (meth makers) need pseudoephedrine," said Mark Woodward, spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Named after Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nikky Green, whom investigators believe was killed Dec. 26 by a meth addict operating a lab out of his car, House Bill 2176 limits sales of the popular ingredient in cold medicine to pharmacies. The bill would also require buyers to show a photo ID and sign a document. Sales of "clean urine" would also become a misdemeanor carrying a $500 penalty. [end]
Oklahoma needs major changes to stem skyrocketing rates of methamphetamine production and addiction, including more regulation and a shift toward rehabilitating users, lawmakers were told this week. Officials from law enforcement and public health agencies testified before the House Criminal Justice Committee for two days as part of an interim study on methamphetamine use. It included numerous elected officials and narcotics officers, many telling lawmakers that methamphetamine use is draining manpower and budgets from state and local agencies. "It's growing like a wildfire in Oklahoma," said John Nance, R-Bethany, who requested the study. [continues 603 words]
STILLWATER -- Shoppers in Payne County, beware: Buy too much sinus medication and you may be reported as a possible methamphetamine dealer. The same goes for too much alcohol, rock salt, coffee filters, lithium batteries and anything containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or ether. It's all part of a three-month-old sticker program by the Payne County sheriff to target the growing Oklahoma meth industry. "It is getting so easy to manufacture. Anyone with a stove and a pot can make the stuff," Payne County Undersheriff Ken Willerton said. [continues 688 words]
Marijuana advocates will rally at the Oklahoma Capitol today to promote legalization of the drug and raise awareness among politicians. "Most people in the legislature don't keep up with the issue," said Norma Sapp, protest coordinator. "It is time for us to come out of our hole and make our voices heard." According to fliers passed out on university campuses, including Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma, three bands and a disc jockey from California will perform. [continues 348 words]
