USA: Baseball close to adopting policy to curb performance drug use

With members of Congress ready to step in and get the job done if Major League Baseball and its players' union didn't, an agreement has finally been hammered out that should eliminate the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Owners approved the agreement last week. The Associated Press reported that the players' association executive board approval is considered a formality. The panel will decide when it meets Dec. 5-9 in Henderson, Nev., whether all players should vote to ratify the agreement or if board approval is sufficient.

Under the new rules, steroid users will be suspended for 50 games after one positive test, 100 games for a second offense and banned for life if they test positive a third time.

Congress is considering legislation that would strip professional sports leagues of the power to police themselves in drug matters and institute a national standard modeled on the Olympics — a two-year suspension for the first offense.

While we favored a "zero-tolerance policy" of one strike and out, we'll go along with this compromise as being tough enough.

The deal also adds amphetamines to the list of baseball's banned substances. A first positive test for amphetamines would require additional mandatory testing. A second offense would draw a 25-game suspension, a third offense would result in an 80-game suspension, and the penalty for a fourth would be at the commissioner's discretion.

That's a start, but why not make use of speed subject to the same three-strikes rule for steroids?

When it comes to these substances, the operative words are "performance enhancing" and such drugs have no place in professional sports at any level.

Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins and Bill Lee.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Wed, 23 Nov 2005
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic
Website: http://www.yakima-herald.com/
Copyright: 2005 - Yakima Herald-Republic

New Zealand: NZ Customs office opened in China

New Zealand has opened its first Customs office in Beijing in a step towards fighting the increasing amount of methamphetamine imported into New Zealand.

The Comptroller of Customs, Martyn Dunne, officially opened the office of the customs counsellor in a ceremony yesterday hosted by the New Zealand Ambassador to China, Tony Browne, and attended by a number of Chinese dignitaries, including Vice-Minister Gong Zheng.

The customs counsellor, Matt Roseingrave, will work with Chinese and other international law enforcement agencies to help combat international criminal activity and address other security concerns.

Key among these issues is the increasing amount of methamphetamine precursors being trafficked to New Zealand.

"The office of customs counsellor will allow New Zealand and China to join forces to face these challenges together," Mr Dunne said.

Mr Roseingrave will also work with China Customs and New Zealand trade policy officials to support the New Zealand Government's Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the Chinese government, Mr Dunne said.

Mr Dunne said, they were "very excited about the opportunities the Office brought for furthering our close relationship".

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Wed, 23 Nov 2005
Source: stuff.co.nz
Website: http://www.stuff.co.nz/
Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2005

USA: Congress Attaches Methamphetamine Bill to PATRIOT Act

In an attempt to limit debate over a controversial methamphetamine bill, members of Congress have attached it to legislation renewing the USA-PATRIOT Act, which could pass Congress this weekend. The Drug Policy Alliance fought this bill, now known as the "Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act," in several committees. Though the bill remains alive, groups working to oppose it have scored several major victories.

Most importantly, the Drug Policy Alliance, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative and other groups waged a high-profile campaign to remove draconian mandatory minimums from the bill. The original bill would have enacted penalties for methamphetamine that were harsher than those enacted for crack cocaine in the 1980s. Those mandatory minimums were stripped out of the bill in committee. Thousands of Alliance supporters faxed Congress in opposition to the mandatory minimums.

Additionally, a number of good provisions were added in committee. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) added a section that creates a grant program to increase drug treatment for women with children. Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) added a section requesting a study on how to enact a treatment-instead-of-incarceration program for federal offenders with substance abuse problems. The Alliance has been working to accomplish both things all year.

Two troubling provisions remain in the bill. One would enact a penalty of up to 20 years for selling or making methamphetamine in a home where a minor resides (even if the minor is not there at the time). This penalty would be on top of the penalties for the underlying offenses, which usually carry harsh mandatory minimums themselves. Though methamphetamine in the presence of children is a serious problem, this provision could devastate families by giving thousands of mothers long prison sentences when other options, such as treatment, are available. If the provision is enacted, many children would be put into foster care at taxpayer expense.

The other troubling provision would require law-abiding Americans to show identification and sign a government log to buy cold medicine. While the Alliance supports many state and federal regulations designed to prevent people from using cold medicine to manufacture methamphetamine, there are concerns about the privacy implications of requiring people to show ID and give their names and addresses to buy Nyquil, Theraflu, Sudafed and dozens of other cold medicines.

Since Congress has yet to pass the PATRIOT Act, which contains the meth legislation, the Alliance is now doing some last minute lobbying to reform or eliminate these provisions.

Note: The final bill is a combination of several bills along with changes made in committee, and is not available online.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 17 Nov 2005
Source: Drug Policy Alliance
Website: http://www.drugpolicy.org/

Canada: Former meth addict sues dealer

It’s about taking responsibility, she says

The first time Sandy Bergen tried crystal meth, as a “vulnerable” 18-year-old, she became addicted.

Three years later, Bergen is taking responsibility for her drug use by suing her former drug dealer.

“I’ve taken responsibility, and now we’re turning it on him to take responsibility,” she said. “The justice system works very slowly, and this way I can have a voice in this. I can make him answer for his actions.”

The resident of Biggar, Saskatchewan, and her family are involved in a lawsuit that will determine precisely who is responsible for Bergen’s overdose last spring.

Bergen’s lawyer, Warren Smith of Busse Law firm, said that the civil case will substantiate that Sandy’s dealer was negligent, and sold the drugs with intent to inflict mental and physical harm.

He compared the lawsuit to suing a toy company for negligence in manufacturing, or tobacco companies for intent to harm.

In addition to recompensing the harms done to Bergen, Smith said that the case will also recoup social costs, such as the cost to the province of Saskatchewan for Bergen’s hospitalization.

“There’s a reason why drugs are illegal: they’re illegal because they cause damage, damage that society already bears,” said Smith.

Stuart Busse, of the same law firm, said that the lawsuit is based on the dealer’s actions being careless and for personal economic gain.

Busse noted that Bergen is also suing the grandmother of the drug dealer, on the basis that she facilitated his actions.

“This isn’t just where she went and bought drugs off the street — we’re a small town here, they went to school together,” said Busse. “He caught her in a vulnerable point . . . it isn’t just a voluntary purchase by her.”

“They have all sorts of ways to manipulate you,” said Bergen. The most effective: addiction.

“As an addict, I had a diminished capacity to make the right choice. I was a very sick person.”

“Crystal meth makes your heart as hard as a rock,” she said.

Before Bergen overdosed, she had been sober for two months, and had not taken meth for eight. In May 2004, she was due to testify in court, in regards to a sexual assault that she had been subjected to a year earlier. At this time, Bergen was again approached by the dealer who had first introduced her to the drug, and she finally gave in.

“I knew it wouldn’t make anything better, but I decided to do it anyway,” she said. But almost immediately, she became violently ill.

It felt like someone had “jabbed a pencil through my brain,” she said, and she began to vomit blood and turn blue.

“It looked like I was dying — I actually was, but they didn’t know it at the time,” she said. She took the meth at 9 a.m., but didn’t make it to the hospital until 3 p.m.. Even then, it was hours before anyone realized that she was overdosing on crystal meth — she was too ashamed to tell the doctor, in case her father should find out.

Finally, she collapsed. Bergen was in a coma for eleven days. Her body puffed up to three times its normal size, a lung collapsed, and 17 bags of IVs were put directly into her arteries, as her veins had all collapsed.

“This drug just drags you down. I’m not supposed to be alive,” she said.

The first time Bergen tried the drug, it was provided free of charge by Biggar’s only dealer; she was high for five days, ending up in Saskatoon. When she started to come down, and as she watched a mother high on methamphetamine while breastfeeding her child, she was horrified by how fast and how quickly she had sunk. Still, she said, she wanted more and very quickly became dependent on the drug.

These are the experiences she shares to demonstrate the need for her to actively speak out and stop “enabling” the drug trade in her town.

Although the family stands to lose money on the lawsuit — judgments are based on the resources of the parties involved — the family’s main concern is getting their message out.

Bergen noted that the lawsuit may make it “uneconomical” for the defendant to continue to sell drugs in the town.

Bergen’s parents are also involved in the lawsuit, suing both the drug dealer and his grandmother for the adverse reaction they had to their daughter’s overdose.

Sandy’s father, Stan Bergen, said that his daughter was taken advantage of — and the dealer needs to be held accountable.

“We have to hold these people accountable for what they’re doing, not just to my daughter, but to the community,” he said.

“It’s not just about money: it’s about making these people responsible.”

He called crystal meth “a blight on society,” noting that drugs are a huge problem in the northern and western parts of the country, on reserves in particular.

“If you haven’t had anybody have a problem with it in your community, just wait.”

While Health Canada does not have the data to reinforce or refute this, new measures to combat the production of crystal methamphetamine indicate that the government hopes to be more active in fighting the drug. Territorial governments, as well as the provincial governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, are making some cold medications, often used to prepare meth, available only over the counter.

Due to the nature of the drug — crystal meth is very easy to prepare and uses household items like bleach and cold syrup — it is very difficult to determine how widely it is used. Carolyn Sexauer of Health Canada said that there is no indication that use is rising beyond the one per cent it is currently estimated at, but noted that the statistics available do not account for use among those who live on reserves or are homeless.

Georgina Bergen, Sandy’s mother, noted that meth is a problem in all small towns — but in Biggar, things are improving.

“The drugs in Biggar have dried up since we [launched] the lawsuit. It’s gotten a lot less safe to deal them here,” she said.

Bergen said that Sandy never had very high self-esteem — “so I could see where she could fall victim to outside influences.”

“I’ve seen her go from hell in a handbasket to somebody I can be proud of. I hate to say an overdose is a good thing, but in our case, it was.”

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Sun, 13 November 2005
Source: The Manitoban Online (Canada)
Author: Tessa Vanderhart, Staff
Contact: http://umanitoba.ca/manitoban/2005-2006/static/letters_to_the_editor.php
Website: http://umanitoba.ca/manitoban/
Copyright: 2005 The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation

Australia: Drugs rife at major events

MELBOURNE'S major events are being held in a binge of illicit drugs.

Scientific tests detected cocaine and amphetamines at the Melbourne Cup.

It was the latest result from a series of tests commissioned by the Sunday Herald Sun.

Over the past 15 months, traces of cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy were found in nightclubs and at Melbourne's gala events -- including the Logies and the Brownlow Medal count.

It is understood that undercover drug squad detectives attended the Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day race meetings.

The Sunday Herald Sun took swabs from toilets in the Victoria Racing Club members stand at Flemington and had them tested by an accredited scientific laboratory.

Two swabs from the men's toilets returned positive results for cocaine and amphetamines. There were no positive results from the women's bathrooms.

The VRC did not comment on the results.

In May, traces of cocaine and amphetamines were found at the television industry's Logie Awards.

In September, evidence emerged of cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy at the AFL's Brownlow Medal presentation.

In August last year, a sweep of eight popular Melbourne nightclubs found traces of cocaine in five.

And new research shows drug dealers are supplying a smorgasbord of lethal drugs to defiant users who care little for the effect of police activity on their ability to get what they want.

Studies conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre found that this year ecstasy users were often able to buy speed, cannabis, ice and cocaine from the one dealer.

Seventy-nine per cent of users had tried cocaine, 97 per cent had used cannabis, 71 per cent ice and 33 per cent GHB.

Fifty-two per cent of Victorian users in the study believed police activity had increased. But only 6 per cent said that activity made drugs harder to buy.

Researcher Jen Johnston said most dealing was hard for police to detect "because most people score within their social group".

GHB was considered the easiest drug to get in Victoria, where 64 per cent reported it as "very easy" to source.

Of the Victorian users who reported overdosing on a drug, GHB was blamed in 57 per cent of cases.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Sun, 13th November 2005
Source: The Herald Sun (Australia)
Author: Carly Crawford and Kelvin Healey
Website: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/
Copyright: 2005 The Herald Sun

Indonesia: Indonesians raid 'one of world's biggest drug plants'

Indonesian police have detained 12 people after raiding a factory making ecstasy pills and methamphetamines that officers described as one of the biggest such plants in the world.

Police said anti-narcotics officers raided the factory on Friday near the city of Serang, about 75 kilometres west of Jakarta.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has declared war on drugs, would visit the site on Saturday, officials said.

Two European men, four Chinese and six Indonesians were detained at the site, Badrodin Haiti, the provincial police chief for the region, said by telephone.

Police seized 100 kilograms of crystal methamphetamines, known locally as shabu shabu, as well as raw materials in more than 300 drums that were to be used to make ecstasy, Mr Haiti said.

He said the factory had the one of the biggest capacities for making ecstasy in the world.

"This is the third biggest factory that we know of," he said. National police chief General Sutanto, quoted by the official Antara news agency, made the same comment.

The plant had been under surveillance since May, but police waited until production began before moving in, Mr Haiti said.

The factory operators had obtained a licence for the plant by calling it a cable factory, Mr Haiti said. Antara said the factory covered an area of four hectares.

Samples of the methamphetamines had already been sent to buyers in Hong Kong, Mr Haiti added.

Indonesia imposes tough sanctions for narcotics offences, including death.

Despite these penalties, numerous foreigners have been arrested in recent years, mainly for trafficking or possession.

-Reuters

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 12 November 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Email: comments@your.abc.net.au
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/

USA: Torrance County hires jail consultant to look at options

Heated debate surrounds differing opinions about jail

Beth Hahn Mountain View Telegraph; Special to El Defensor Chieftain

The Torrance County Commission approved a $10,000 contract with a jail consultant after a heated debate Wednesday.

Several weeks ago, Oklahoma detention consultant Brandi Johnson made a presentation that offered to help the county decide whether to build a county jail.

Johnson will study the county's jail needs in terms of size, cost and preparation for future expansion. The county currently houses inmates in Estancia's Corrections Corporation of America prison, as well as the Cibola County Jail.

Last month, county officials attended a meeting hosted by District Attorney Clint Wellborn on the subject of a regional jail that would be a partnership among Torrance, Sierra, Catron and Socorro counties.

County Manager Bob Ayre said Wednesday that Johnson's study will be needed, regardless of whether Torrance joins in the regional jail partnership or not.

Commissioner LeRoy Candelaria disagreed, however, and said the $10,000 should be put toward the county's incarceration debt of more than $200,000.

"We should pay off our debt and then look at our situation," he said.

Candelaria also said Torrance should participate in the planning for the regional jail.

But Undersheriff Roy Dennis said Torrance will "be in a bigger mess" if it becomes a partner in a regional jail.

"We need our own facility," he told commissioners.

Dennis added that the county could generate revenue if it builds a methamphetamine treatment facility inside the county jail.

"New Mexico does not have a methamphetamine treatment facility right now," he said. "We either have to send them to California or Louisiana or Texas or some other place."

Part of Johnson's job description includes looking at jail population projections, size needs and cost estimates.

Candelaria said the county hired local resident Dick Ness to serve as a detention consultant at a cost of $20,000.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Sat, 12 November 2005
Source: El Defensor Chieftain (USA)
Website: http://www.dchieftain.com/
Copyright: 2005 El Defensor Chieftain

USA: Meth addicts come from all walks of life

It's being called America’s new drug crisis. Methamphetamine has crept across the country and climbed up the social-economic ladder.

The faces of meth abusers may surprise you. They are educated, they're housewives wanting to be super-moms and white collar professionals.

In the shadows, a waif-like woman with caved cheeks and an addict’s nervous tremble embodies the new, unusual face of meth.

"You start looking haggard. And you let things go," said meth addict “Taylor.” At 44, educated, and a mother, she may not be who you envision when you think of a drug abuser.

"I have a great degree, but I can't seem to get into a good job because I'm dirty and also because my thinking isn't there anymore. I've used so much. Basically what it’s done is made my life stand still."

Like the draw of a thumping beat, meth seduces its users, giving them endless energy, making them feel sexy. It has spread to the gay club scene in New York and California.

The drug’s popularity has also prompted a support group called Moms Off Meth in a small town in Iowa. Federal statistics show 12 million Americans have experimented with methamphetamine.

"It has spread across all of the demographics," said Don Lincoln of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Norfolk. "We've got housewives using it. We've got professional people, doctors and lawyers using it."

"Taylor" was introduced to the drug while working as a bartender in Oregon 20 years ago. She began snorting, eating and injecting it into her veins. She even let “meth cooks” make the drug in her home.

"So I always got a really good stash. I'd also get money and if I wanted to buy some, I'd always get a good discount," she says with a rueful laugh.

Nearly caught in a drug sting, Taylor retreated to Hampton Roads, wanting to change her life. She found drugs were harder to shake than the cops.

"Every day it’s a struggle. Every day I want to do some ‘get up and go.’ It makes life easier. It blunts the reality of it. "

Experts say meth can be harder to kick than crack. Taylor says she's hoping weekly drug counseling sessions at the Norfolk Apostolic Church will help curb her addiction, because this dangerous road could lead to her demise.

“I feel like I need to change 100 percent. I would like to never do drugs… to change. I can say that, I can talk the talk, but so far I haven't."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Fri, 11 November 2005
Source: WVEC (USA)
Reporter: Ramona Parks
Website: http://www.wvec.com/
Copyright: WVEC 2005

Australia: Sophisticated drug lab uncovered

POLICE have seized 2,000 litres of chemicals and drug-making equipment in a raid on a sophisticated drug lab in north-west Sydney.

Inspector Steve Wye from Quakers Hill police said officers were alerted to the stockpile at a warehouse in Riverstone after an anonymous tip-off.

Insp Wye told ABC Radio they uncovered 2,000 litres of chemicals and drug-making equipment in the overnight raid.

No arrests were made.

The drugs had not yet been analysed, but police believe there are enough amphetamines to manufacture a substantial amount of drugs.

"They obviously know what they're doing, (they know) the process from powder to crystal to fluids," Insp Wye said.

"It's, according to the Hazmat (hazardous materials) fire brigade, one of the largest they've ever seen."

Investigations are underway to establish who owned or used the warehouse.

"Inquires will be undertaken by detectives as to who rents the premises, who owns the premises," he said.

"We will be following up a couple of other leads in relation to phone rentals, etc as to who actually belongs to this unit."


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Thur, 10 November 2005
Source: The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Email: letters@dailytelegraph.com.au
Website: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Telegraph

Australia: Tip-off leads to drug lab raid

Police believe they have discovered one of the biggest illegal drug labs in Sydney.

They found a sophisticated drug lab in Sydney's far north-west overnight.

Police uncovered about 2,000 litres of chemicals and drug-making equipment at a Riverstone factory after receiving an anonymous tip-off.

The drugs have not been analysed yet but police believe they are amphetamines.

Inspector Steve Wye from Quakers Hill police says the manufacturers are not amateurs.

"They obviously know what they're doing, it's in different processes from powder to crystals to fluids," he said.

Inspector Wye says it is a significant find.

"According to the HAZMAT Fire Brigades one of the largest they've ever seen," he said.

There have been no arrests but police say they are looking at who owns and rents the property.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 10 November 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Email: comments@your.abc.net.au
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/

Canada: Provinces want more help battling crystal meth

The western provinces have been warning the rest of the country for months about the widespread use of crystal meth.

Police in British Columbia say the drug, made from ingredients readily available at drug stores and large supermarkets, has overtaken cocaine as the drug of choice for many addicts.

It can be made in small, simple tabletop labs, but police believe most of the drug is coming from what they call super-labs.

The Western premiers have committed millions of dollars to tackle the problem; mostly for public awareness and to get volunteer community groups going.

Ruth McLaughlin is one of those volunteers. She got to know the sidewalks and back alleys of Victoria a year ago, when her 14-year-old daughter became addicted to crystal meth and disappeared for days.

McLaughlin and her family were forced to learn about the drug that lured her daughter away from home. She and her husband launched a volunteer society to warn parents about the drug and lobby for more treatment facilities.

"We don't pretend for a moment we're going to eradicate this, it's still going to be around, but if we can stop it or slow it down ... and save some kids from going down this path, then we've done our job. But we can't save all of them," she said.

McLaughlin's daughter came home after she was viciously beaten on the street. She still occasionally uses the drug.

McLaughlin says more needs to be done to help the kids caught up with crystal meth.

Right now there are just 36 detox beds for minors suffering from all kinds of substance abuse in British Columbia, with no plans for more.

Alberta has 24 with another two dozen planned - and next year that province will be the first to allow parents to get court orders to forcibly lock up their addicted children for five days.

The federal government will more closely regulate the sale of bulk ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, the main chemical used to make crystal meth. Western provinces have moved ephedrine-containing cold remedies behind drug store counters.

B.C. Solicitor General John Les is looking to Ottawa for more help. Although penalties for meth traffickers have been put on a par with cocaine offences, Les says that's not enough.

"They are punished, but frankly, it's still a joke. The penalties they should be at least somewhere in the range of manslaughter, because we are talking about taking people's future away from them," he said.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Thur, 10 November 2005
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada)
Website: http://www.cbc.ca/
Copyright: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2005

USA: State Receives Funding To Fight Methamphetamine

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander today joined Congressman Zach Wamp in applauding the completion of the Fiscal Year 2006 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations conference report. The report includes $4 million to assist Tennessee law enforcement officials in their ongoing battle against methamphetamine:

$3 million for a new statewide task force that will ensure all regions of the state have the training and equipment they need to address this crisis. Last year Sens. Frist and Alexander worked with Rep. Wamp to double funding for the South/East Tennessee Methamphetamine Taskforce. That funding enabled the Taskforce to expand its training and support activities across the entire state. This year's additional funding will provide the necessary resources to support a statewide methamphetamine enforcement effort.

$1 million for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to develop a statewide crime tracking system. TBI will use the funding to equip and support a statewide methamphetamine intelligence and operational law enforcement computer database to assist the Tennessee statewide methamphetamine taskforce. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department currently operates a database that will be expanded to ensure that regional methamphetamine task forces, TBI, and the Tennessee National Guard's Counter Drug Division can effectively work together to track repeat offenders.

Last year Tennessee ranked second nationally among all states in the number of methamphetamine lab seizures, and local law enforcement officials across the country rank meth as the nation's number one drug problem. Each pound of meth leaves behind five to six pounds of toxic waste, and the cost of a single lab cleanup ranges from $2,000 to $10,000.

“Methamphetamine is rapidly tearing apart our neighborhoods, destroying our families, and stealing our children's futures,” Sen. Frist said. “In August I heard first-hand from Tennesseans all across the state about the many ways in which methamphetamine is destroying their communities. I came back to Washington committed to finding the best way to assist state and local efforts to combat this addictive drug. By creating a statewide taskforce and providing meaningful funding, Tennessee’s law enforcement agencies can take the critical step of improving coordination in the fight against methamphetamine. This is just a first step, and I look forward to continuing my work with Sen. Alexander, Congressman Wamp, and the entire delegation to put an end to this crisis.”

“Methamphetamine is a critical problem in Tennessee where we have experienced the second-highest number of meth lab seizures in the nation,” Sen. Alexander said. “Strong support and cooperation among Tennessee's law enforcement efforts is vital to combating this scourge on our communities. A statewide database and tracking system will help get dangerous criminals off our streets by making sure that methamphetamine producers and their labs don't elude arrest because of jurisdictional boundaries. I will continue to work with Sen. Frist and our Congressional delegation to address the methamphetamine problem in Tennessee.”

“By creating the South/East Tennessee Methamphetamine Taskforce, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee addressed a serious shortcoming in the drug war and sought to consolidate the law enforcement efforts and resources in his jurisdiction to focus on destroying labs and getting convictions instead of just arresting and re-arresting offenders,” Rep. Wamp said. “The task force's results have been so impressive that they have been replicated across the state and now serve as a model to the entire nation. As the only Tennessean on the Appropriations Committee and at the joint request of the three U.S. Attorneys representing Tennessee's meth fighters, I have fought to provide proper funding for the taskforce and with the forceful support of Tennessee's Senators we were able to secure their request of $3 million to continue taskforce operations.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also awarded $17.8 million to Tennessee through the Access to Recovery Program last year. That funding will be distributed over three years to enhance substance abuse clinical treatment and provide recovery support services. In August, the state was awarded an additional $1.5 million over three years to support treatment in six rural counties that have been especially hard hit by methamphetamine.

Both the Senate and the House must pass the conference report before sending it to the President for his signature.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Wed, 09 November 2005
Source: The Chattanoogan.com (USA)
Email: news@chattanoogan.com
Website: http://www.chattanoogan.com/
Copyright: 2005 The Chattanoogan.com