SEEKING SOLUTIONS

Precursors

* State Rep. Clel Baudler wants to require shoppers to show identification
to buy cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used in
making meth. He also wants to limit purchases to a maximum of two packages
at a time.

* Hazleton, an eastern Iowa town of 950 residents, requires people to show
identification and sign a log if they want to buy items containing
pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus or other chemicals used to make meth.
Several towns have now adopted the idea.

* Canadian authorities earlier this year put into effect regulations that
made ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and other ingredients controlled substances
for the first time. In recent years, smugglers bought large amounts of the
materials in Canada and slipped them into the United States.

* At least 26 of Iowa's 99 counties have programs to help pay for locks to
put on tanks containing anhydrous ammonia, a farm fertilizer used in making
meth. Meth "cooks" routinely steal anhydrous ammonia.

* Iowa State University is testing an additive that would force meth cooks
to use far more anhydrous ammonia to get the same amount of meth.

Intervention

* Some experts advocate family drug courts to provide services, help
parents face the consequences of their addiction and keep families
together. Polk County has begun a pilot project, giving parents more
support and time to prove they can become independent. Those who succeed
keep their children.

* State human-services officials hope that Iowa's new child-welfare design
will encourage more work with drug-affected families. They are seeking
federal waivers that would provide more help for families' needs rather
than for foster care.

Treatment

* Des Moines is one of five sites nationally for a study on whether
medications could help the brain heal faster from meth addiction and ease
the cravings and depression.

* Most meth addicts can recover, if they are in a treatment program
tailored to their drug. They also must stay away from all addictive drugs -
including alcohol.

Prevention

* Parents and grandparents can have a big impact on whether children and
teenagers try meth or other drugs. The state and nonprofit groups are
creating programs to help them talk to their kids and grandchildren about meth.