LUCAS BOOSTS RESPONSE TO EPIDEMIC

Frank Lucas of Cheyenne, a Republican who has served since spring 1994 as
representative for Oklahoma's 6th Congressional District, spends some of
his time these days thinking about, and trying to address in public policy,
the epidemic rise of illegal laboratories producing methamphetamine. "Meth"
is the drug of choice in much of the Midwest. Worse, as documented in The
Oklahoman's recent news stories, it is inexpensive and easy to produce. It
devastates lives, leading to uncontrollable paranoia, violence and
collapse. The labs producing it are highly toxic and dangerous to clean up.
Ultimately, meth's social and legal costs are virtually incalculable.

Lucas represents the state's largest district in square miles. Many do not
realize that 40 percent of his constituents live and work in the Oklahoma
City area, where meth labs are widespread. Lucas told one crowd of
constituents, "I wish I could say this problem was limited to the city, but
it's everywhere. It isn't something only our city cousins need to worry
about. Police are finding meth labs in urban, suburban and rural areas of
Oklahoma."

Last month, Lucas met with Oklahoma City police and the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation. He said, "I'm even more concerned about this
problem now, after hearing them tell me how easy this drug is to
manufacture, and how hard it is to eliminate." Meth thrives in this
economically poor state, where materials for its illegal production are
easily and inexpensively obtained. Lucas explained that city police once
fought meth from a single location, but that the volume of their work now
requires four satellite posts.

By the end of a series of town meetings late last month in Elk City,
Clinton, Weatherford, Cordell, Hobart, Mangum, Hollis and Sayre, the
seven-year incumbent had greeted hundreds of constituents. He discussed in
some detail things like the federal farm bill, agricultural policies,
Social Security, the federal budget process, congressional redistricting
and State Question 695, the right-to-work referendum he supports. But
perhaps no issue he might yet tackle as an elected official can match in
ultimate importance the scourge of illegal drug abuse, particularly the
meth menace.

Lucas has already pressed for increases in federal funding of anti-meth
programs, and recently gained another $500,000 for the state Bureau of
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to purchase a new mobile field
command post to help in clean-up operations.

All members of the state's congressional delegation are encouraged to work
cooperatively in efforts to boost drug law enforcement -- and to find
effective and humane methods for reviving the thousands of lives shredded
by meth's awful scourge.