ANY STEPS TO SLOW METH PLAGUE DESERVE SERIOUS EXPLORATION

To those who follow these pages this editorial is going to sound like a
broken record.

Sometimes, though, a message is important enough to bear repeating and
repeating again.

Such a subject is the methamphetamine epidemic that has come to our
mountains. It's not hyperbole to call it an epidemic; the number of meth
labs busted in North Carolina has boomed from nine in 1999 to more than 320
last year.

The trend line for this year isn't any more comforting, and more disturbing
yet is the prevalence of meth labs in mountain counties.

There is actual room for debate about the wisdom and effects of the drug
war that has been going on in America for decades, but there is no room for
debate about meth.

It is deadly, dangerous, incredibly addictive and spreading like wildfire.
There are no mild side effects to meth use. It is easy to make but produces
a huge amount of toxic byproduct. It can be ingested in many ways. All lead
to addiction, and it's a short walk from addiction to death. Stories abound
of use of the drug for days on end, a binge that culminates in a massive
heart attack.

Meth use has added some grim new terminology to the world of dentistry due
to a condition known as "meth mouth." As some of the ingredients that can
be used in meth production seem to belong more to the world of metalworking
red phosphorus, lye, lithium and sulfuric acid among other things ‹ it's no
surprise that taking meth orally has severe consequences for your teeth and
gums.

As meth dries up saliva, which helps protect the mouth from acids, those
acids attack enamel at an accelerated rate.

Meth is nasty stuff. Those who make it usually consume it with little
regard to others, including their own children. A meth site is a toxic
waste dump that imperils anyone in its vicinity. Oh, it's also explosive.

The problem has been recognized by public and law enforcement leaders, who
have been tackling it with more agents and tougher legal approaches. There
is, however, no silver bullet that will magically make meth disappear.

But there are ways to put a dent in it. In Oklahoma, restrictions placed on
over-the-counter cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine have led
to a significant reduction in the number of labs busted, up to 80 percent
in parts of the state. It's a lesson Tar Heel leaders may follow.

Last week a state Senate panel OK'd a move that would curb sales of
tablets, such as Sudafed, that contain pseudoephedrine. Gel and liquid
forms of such medicines would be free of the restrictions because of the
difficulty of separating pseudoephedrine from them. Consumers would have go
to a pharmacist, show photo ID and sign to make purchases. Planned
legislation would also create harsher penalties for people making meth in
motels, hotels and apartments, exposing many people to toxic byproducts.

Wal-Mart and Target have already announced they will place medicines that
can be used in meth production behind pharmacy counters in their stores.

Concerns have been raised about access to a legal drug by consumers,
particularly in rural areas. As we noted before, there¹s no magic bullet
when it comes to meth. But steps have to be taken, and then they have to be
studied to see if they're effective.

As Chris Lee of Fletcher told the Citizen-Times, "It's the job of the
government to look out for the average citizen. It's a bit of an
inconvenience. But it¹s part of the price you pay for safety."

That safety is elusive so far. But it will never come if we don't look for it.