Lawmakers target meth problems

June 26, 2005
By Steve Bauer

Federal and state lawmakers are pushing proposals to help communities deal with problems caused by the spread of methamphetamine abuse and manufacturing.

Proposed federal legislation in the Clean-Up of Methamphetamine Act seeks authorization of $124 million would:

• Promote education of students in the dangers of meth and help pay for treatment of children suffering from the effects of meth.
• Allow designation of certain byproducts of meth labs as hazardous and expand penalties against meth lab operators.
• Direct the Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency to designate as hazardous certain byproducts of meth manufacturing and to provide grants to states and local law enforcement for training and equipment.
• Provide grants, including $15 million for cleanup. Each pound of meth produced generates an estimated 5 pounds of hazardous waste.
• Pay for training and equipment for state and local law enforcement.

Congress also has proposed legislation under the Combat Meth Act, which is supported by the National Association of Counties.

Congress also has a proposal to add $34 million to the Community Oriented Policing Services program for police initiatives to combat meth production and trafficking.

"National statistics show an alarming rate of children found in meth lab sites during arrests," said NACO spokesman Joe Dunn. "They are living in deplorable conditions."

Dunn said the long-term effects of exposure to meth materials is yet to be determined.

"We have heard stories where families move into former meth lab sites and children develop pulmonary problems, learning disabilities and other illness," Dunn said.

Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, is among the co-sponsors of the bill.

"The use of methamphetamine was growing when I took office and it has continued to mushroom throughout our rural areas in the years since," Johnson said.

"The consequences are deep and far-reaching and I fear the users in particular have no clue as to the dangers of this highly addictive and devastating drug," Johnson said.

In Illinois , the House and Senate each unanimously passed the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, which is yet to be signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. It would:

• Require jail time for those who manufacture meth where children are living, present or endangered by the meth making.
• Require jail time for those who make meth in motels, hotels, condos, apartments or other multi-unit dwellings.
• Punish those who dump meth waste on roadsides or in ditches, fields, forests, steams or rivers.

Other proposed federal legislation under the Combat Meth Act would:

• Restrict pseudoephedrine sales nationwide, placing pseudoephedrine and similar products behind the counter. It would also require purchasers to show identification and sign a log to track purchase of key meth precursors, and the actual product would be behind the counter.