METH BILL APPROVAL EXPECTED

WASHINGTON -- Congress sent President Clinton legislation yesterday to aid
states in fighting the war against methamphetamine, one of the nation's
biggest drug problems.

The House approved legislation to provide up to $65 million to federal,
state and local officials to combat the trafficking and manufacturing of
meth beginning Oct. 1, the start of the 2001 fiscal year. The Senate
approved the bill earlier this month.

Hawai`i law enforcement officials say methamphetamine is the state's leading
drug problem and estimate that there are 30,000 to 40,000 hard-core users in
Hawai`i.

Honolulu Police Lt. Michael Fujioka, who heads the department's Clandestine
Drug Laboratory Response Team, said the department would welcome the
additional money.

"We need the money," Fujioka said. "Our grant will run out next year in
2001. The money will help us."

The safety equipment alone for one officer costs more than $5,000, said HPD
evidence specialist Dean Yamamoto, who trains officers in clandestine
laboratory safety and detection.

The federal legislation would provide about $242 million over five years for
meth treatment programs, prevention, enforcement, research and the cleanup
of hazardous wastes from meth labs.

A state-by-state breakdown has not been done.

Penalties for making and selling meth also would be increased in the
legislation.

The meth provision was an amendment to the Children's Health Act, which
Clinton is expected to sign.

U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who co-sponsored the legislation in the
House, said the bill would help local law enforcement combat the
proliferation of makeshift meth labs found everywhere from homes to boats.

"This marks the beginning of a serious escalation in the war against a
particularly pernicious drug that destroys families, endangers users and
puts children at risk," said Cannon.

Meth, a highly addictive drug commonly called speed or crystal, has become a
thorny problem for law enforcement because it is cheaply made with common
household products.

The cleanup of hazardous wastes left over from meth labs is costly and
drains local budgets.

Cleanup costs can range from $3,000 for small kitchen-counter labs to more
than $1 million for large labs.

Advertiser staff writer Brandon Masuoka contributed to this report.