CHEMICAL WARFARE

More Money Coming To Fight Meth

Law enforcement is fighting a seemingly losing battle to control and
clean up illegal methamphetamine laboratories.

Oklahoma, which ranks third in the nation in the number of illicit
meth labs, might soon be getting some economic aid to fight the good
fight. An amendment approved by the U.S. Senate would provide another
$40 million to help eliminate methamphetamine labs. How much will go
to Oklahoma still isn't known but it could be sizable. Anything would
help.

Funding for the meth lab eradication has come up short recently in
states such as Oklahoma.

"Meth production is quick, mobile and inexpensive. I'm pleased the
Senate approved my request for increased funding," Sen. Don Nickles,
R-Okla., said.

In April, the Clinton administration transferred $10 million from
other accounts within the Department of Justice to help with such meth
lab cleanups. Nickles attached his amendment to a major spending bill
for foreign operations.

The new money would go to the Justice Department and be funneled to
the states under policies already in place.

The money cannot come fast enough. Drug makers, in search of a quick
buck, are creating a climate of chemical warfare. The casualties
aren't restricted to the thousands of Oklahomans becoming addicted to
a cheap, dangerous high. Other victims are all those many innocent
bystanders put in harm's way by volatile, and sometimes deadly, fumes
emitted during the manufacture of meth.

The operators of these labs are not Nobel chemists who go in for much
research and development in producing a good product. Most of these
drug cookers go into their "kitchens," not knowing if they have a
recipe for disaster or one that will make money.

Not every dollar spent fighting the overall drug war is used wisely.
That will not be the case with any money Oklahoma gets to battle its
methamphetamine problem.