LEGISLATION HELPING TENN IN WAR AGAINST METH

Last spring, acting on the recommendations of a task force convened
by Gov. Phil Bredesen, the Tennessee General Assembly crafted a
comprehensive package of legislation to help quell the growing meth
epidemic in the state.

One of the chief components of that legislative package was a bill
that sought to make it far more difficult to obtain the
over-the-counter medicines that are used in meth's manufacture. One
of the chief ingredients, pseudo-ephedrine, is a decongestant that
can be used with other inexpensive products to make the illegal
stimulant commonly known as meth, speed or crank.

The efficacy of that legislation was demonstrated dramatically in our
area when several local pharmacies, cooperating with law enforcement,
led to the recent arrest of a group of out-of-towners trying to
purchase cold medicine that police say was destined to be used to
make methamphetamine.

Responding to a phone call from the Walgreen's on West Stone Drive,
Kingsport police were ultimately able to arrest four men involved in
attempting to make a suspiciously large purchase of cold medicine,
all of whom were subsequently jailed on charges related to the
manufacture of methamphetamine.

Obviously, those arrests would never have been possible without the
state's new legislation and the vigilance of local pharmacists and their staff.

In moving to place pseudo-ephedrine-based cold medications behind the
counter, requiring customer identification and limiting the quantity
of such medications that can be purchased at any one time, state
lawmakers have shown they understand the stakes involved in this drug
scourge. And, thanks to their action, the number of illegal meth
labs, which pose a particularly grave threat to children, have shown
a substantial decline.

The numbers tell the story.

In 2004, the Department of Children's Services reported that more
than 750 children were placed in state custody as a result of meth
laboratory seizures and incidents.

In 2005, according to an Associated Press report provided by DCS, the
number of children taken into custody by the state dropped to 268.
While that is still 268 children too many, the decline, itself, is a
hopeful one. Equally encouraging, the AP reports that the lower
number of children matches a corresponding drop in arrests for
illegal meth manufacturing since restrictions were placed on cold
medicines containing pseudo-ephedrine.

The sharp drop in children being taken into state custody doesn't
mean that meth trafficking and addiction have suddenly abated. Law
enforcement officials say meth use and addiction are unfortunately as
high as ever. That's because the drug is increasingly being supplied
from dealers in Mexico. But at least the number of children exposed
to the harmful vapors and potentially deadly explosions inherent in
"cooking" meth has been significantly reduced.

The problems of meth production and addiction are complex.

But thanks to the thoughtful work of the governor's task force. the
quick action of the legislature, and the collective vigilance of
individual pharmacists, Tennessee is clearly making progress in
reducing the number of clandestine meth labs in the state which, in
turn, means that fewer children are at immediate risk of their health
and their lives than before. That's a positive trend that's well
worth celebrating.