DESIRE IS THE ROOT OF METH PROBLEM

Federal Law Will Only Help Slow The Scourge.

The methamphetamine epidemic wreaking havoc on our Ozarks and our country
has two main components: production and demand. Congress is working to
create federal regulations limiting access to cold medicines such as
Sudafed and NyQuil that contain pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the
manufacture of meth. Sen. Jim Talent and Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri are at
the lead in creating this legislation.

These efforts are based on an Oklahoma law that went into effect in April
2004. That law requires a photo ID for purchases of cold pills, creates a
computerized registry and limits the amount of cold pills a person can buy
in a 30-day period.

Earlier this year, the Missouri legislature passed a bill modeled on the
Oklahoma law. At the time, this editorial board opposed the bill.
Oklahoma's legislation had been most effective in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
In border regions of the state, it is unclear whether the legislation was
as effective. Meth cooks could simply cross state lines.

In Missouri, unlike Oklahoma, our major cities straddle state lines or are
less than an hour's drive from borders -- and from different laws. The
intrusion on personal privacy was more difficult to justify.

These laws, however, are politically popular. More and more states are
turning to similar laws. The key word is similar. The rush to mimic the
Oklahoma law is creating a patchwork of regulations across the country that
is confusing to retailers. Add this to the intrusion into the privacy of
the average shopper and some people may decide to suffer through a cold
rather than go through the hassle of buying simple medicine.

A single, unifying federal law would be a better situation for retailers,
customers and police than the current process of random states passing
legislation because they see a need. Restricting the ingredients to make
meth so the drug cooks can't get it anywhere in the country would be an
immense help to police.

But consider that John Horton of the White House drug control office
estimated one-third of meth comes from small labs and two-thirds of the
meth supply is created in big foreign labs and smuggled across our borders.
No matter how much we restrict the sale of cold pills, it won't stop that
foreign source.

The key is to quell the demand for the drug. No amount of well-intentioned
legislation will change that.

Meth is not a drug like other drugs. It's important that educational
efforts make that clear. A one-size-fits-all approach to deterring people
from using meth, marijuana, LSD and other drugs won't work. These drugs
affect the brain and the body differently. People need to know the unique
dangers associated with meth. One hit can destroy a person's life.

In other words, no easy answers, no slogans and no prospects for quick returns.

But if we can achieve it, then we will have real long-term success against
meth.