Federal officials target meth

NASHVILLE (AP) — Top officials from the Bush administration on Thursday announced a comprehensive approach to battle methamphetamine, rebutting criticism that the president was focusing mainly on prevention.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and drug czar John Walters made the announcement at the Davidson County Drug Court and Treatment Center — the only drug court in the nation with a treatment and residential facility attached.

“This war has to be strategically fought,” Leavitt said. “It’s about prevention, it’s about treatment and strong enforcement.”

Meth, an addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, is usually produced in clandestine labs using relatively inexpensive over-the-counter cold tablets and common household chemicals.

Meth use began in California, spread to rural areas in the West, Midwest and Southeast and now is reported to be growing in urban areas.

The administration had been criticized for favoring drug abuse prevention over more law enforcement in battling the epidemic. But Walters said the president’s $12.4 billion drug control budget is being used “in a balanced way.”

“We have to have the treatment and prevention, in addition to security resources,” he said.

In the case of law enforcement, Bush plans to grant higher priority to the prosecution of meth cooks and repeat offenders.

The Department of Justice will also establish a forensic science training laboratory to educate federal, state and local law enforcement officers and chemists in the production of meth so that they are better equipped to investigate meth cases.

The initiative also includes $16.2 million over three years for 11 new substance abuse and mental health services grants that focus on treatment of meth addiction, including $1.5 million over three years to the Tennessee Department of Health to target abuse of meth and other emerging drugs in six rural counties.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, who set up a task force to study meth abuse and recently passed legislation based on their recommendations, applauded the contribution.

“I’m pleased the federal government has recognized the strong stand we’re taking to stamp out the meth scourge in Tennessee,” Bredesen said in a release. “We are not going to solve the problem overnight, but if we stay focused, we will make a difference.”

In one case, Tennessee’s legislation actually goes a step further than Bush’s initiative. That plan imposes an individual purchase limit of 3.6 grams per transaction for items containing pseudoephedrine that are sold over the counter.

A major part of Tennessee’s law requires pharmacies to put certain cold and sinus products that contain pseudophedrine behind the counter, which has drastically curtailed the manufacture of meth.

Last year, Tennessee law enforcement authorities seized 1,574 labs across the state — the second-highest lab seizure rate in the nation, behind Missouri, according to officials.

Numbers released last month by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration show meth lab seizures across Tennessee continue to decrease since the Bredesen’s law took effect this spring.

U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., issued a release saying he’s glad Bush recognizes the need for additional resources to fight meth, but he said the plan is “inadequate because it doesn’t go far enough to restrict products containing pseudoephedrine.”

“Law enforcement across the country told us we need to relocate products with pseudoephedrine behind the counter so we can keep meth cooks out of our neighborhoods and schools,” said Talent, one of the supporters of the Combat Meth Act, which would move cold medicines containing the drug behind pharmacy counters and limit how much one person can buy to 7.5 grams a month.

Nevertheless, those who are actually battling meth addiction or deal with those who are, seemed quite pleased with the Bush administration, which is requesting an additional $30 million to support drug court programs.

“People have told me that I should lock them up and throw away the key,” Judge Seth Norman, who oversees the Davidson County Drug Court, said of the meth abusers and manufacturers. “But I think the public is beginning to understand what you can do with long-term treatment.”

For Gregg Martin, who’s leaving Norman’s residential treatment program after 15 months, it’s another shot at life.

“It’s definitely benefitted me,” said the 34-year-old, who’s looking forward to spending time with his young daughter. “Without it, I’d be in the penitentiary, or dead.”