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| NewsThursday, December 22, 2005 12:42 PM CST |
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Gains made on meth, but drug more potent
INDIANAPOLIS -- The success of Illinois, Indiana and other Midwest states against small-scale meth makers has been offset somewhat by a more potent strain produced by Mexican drug cartels, the White House drug czar said. "Generally speaking, the purity of the methamphetamine coming in from the mafias is higher," said John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "It has created significantly higher price, but as the quantity increases, the price in some places is coming down." Walters delivered the keynote address Wednesday at the Midwest Governors Association Regional Meth Summit, which drew more than 180 officials from 13 states. Many attendees hoped to learn from their peers, with an emphasis on treating meth addicts. "I think all of the states that are here are wrestling with this problem as it has grown and has become more and more visible," said Tom Berkshire, and administrator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Illinois and Indiana law enforcement agencies have stepped up efforts to shut down small labs that produce the highly addictive drug, and state governments have passed laws restricting access to cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, meth's key ingredient. "Our law enforcement people tell me that now, as they have stomped down hard on domestic production, something over three-fourths of the methamphetamine consumed in the state does come from elsewhere," Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said. Those efforts address the supply problem. Walters said random drug tests in both public and private schools could stem the demand for meth and other illegal drugs. "I think that, not too long from now, we're going to look back and say, ?~Why weren't we doing this before?'" Walters said. Using random tests While some groups consider random drug tests a humiliating violation of personal privacy, Walters contends they can reduce drug use the same way tuberculosis screenings can prevent an outbreak. Next month, the Merrillville, Ind., school board is expected to approve random tests for students who participate in extracurricular activities. Private schools in Indiana are free to randomly test their entire student body. Walters said his office recently approved grants to help fund random drug tests in 350 more schools nationwide. He said roughly one new school signs up for the program each week. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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