Harkin Sponsors Legislation to Fight Meth Epidemic

HARKIN SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO FIGHT METH EPIDEMIC

Bill Would Require Pseudoephedrine Products to be Kept behind Pharmacy Counter

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today co-sponsored the Combat Meth Act, bipartisan legislation that would crack down on methamphetamine distribution and use by requiring that all products containing pseudoephedrine are kept behind a pharmacy counter. This provision is similar to Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's bill in the Iowa legislature which restricts the sale of pseudoephedrine products. The legislation also provides new resources and tools to states, local law enforcement and prosecutors to combat the production and distribution of meth, increases community awareness of the epidemic, and provides services to those affected by it.

"Meth continues to plague Iowa destroying lives, families and entire communities," said Harkin. "This critical legislation will help provide Iowa's law enforcement officers with the tools they need to fight meth across the state and keep Iowans drug-free."

Key Components of the Combat Meth Act:

Ø Restrict the sale of necessary ingredient to make meth - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to appropriately limit and record the sale of medicines containing pseudoephedrine by placing them behind the pharmacy counter. If a community meets a hardship provision established by the Drug Enforcement Agency, a convenience store will be allowed to sell ephedrine.

Ø Increase awareness and involvement of businesses that legally sell pseudoephedrine - Provides $5 million for states and businesses that legally sell ingredients used to cook meth with resources to monitor purchases of methamphetamine precursors (pseudoephedrine) and provides training expenses and technical assistance to law enforcement personnel and employees of businesses which lawfully sell substances which may be used to make meth.

Ø Provide critical resources to local law enforcement and prosecutors - Provides an additional $15 million under the COPS program to train state and local law enforcement to investigate and lock-up methamphetamine offenders and expands the methamphetamine "hot spots" program to include personnel and equipment for enforcement, prosecution and environmental clean-up.

Ø Expand the ability of local prosecutors to bring methamphetamine distributors to justice - Provides $5 million to hire additional federal prosecutors and train local prosecutors in state and federal meth laws and cross-designates them as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, allowing them to bring legal action against cooks and traffickers in federal courts under tougher guidelines.

Ø Provide services for children affected by the spread of meth - Provides $5 million in grant funding for Drug Endangered Children rapid response teams to promote collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to assist and educate children that have been affected by the production of methamphetamine.

Ø Enhance treatment options - Authorizes the creation of a Methamphetamine Research, Training and Technical Assistance Center which will research effective treatments for meth abuse and disseminate information and technical assistance to states and private entities on how to improve current treatment methods.

Methamphetamine is perhaps the most deadly, fiercely addictive and rapidly spreading drug the United States has known. During the past decade, while law enforcement officers continue to bust record numbers of clandestine labs, meth use in communities has increased by as much as 300%. The continuing proliferation of methamphetamine production continues to put a severe strain on federal and local entities.

Fighting meth requires a comprehensive approach designed to assist states, local law enforcement and prosecutors to crack down on cooks and traffickers of meth while enhancing community education and awareness and treatment options for those addicted to this dangerous drug. Harkin has been a leader in Congress pushing to strengthen local law enforcement and substance abuse programs. In Iowa, 51 kg of meth were seized and approximately 1,400 labs were discovered in 2004. In 2003, 1240 meth labs were discovered.

Chief sponsors of this legislation are Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jim Talent (R-MO). Other co-sponsors include Ben Nelson (D-NE), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Mark Dayton (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jim Salazar (D-CO), and. Evan Bayh (D-IN).

http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=230794