DURBIN TACKLES METH 'SCOURGE'

BENTON - Calling methamphetamine a "terrible scourge," U.S. Sen. Dick
Durbin held court in Benton Monday to discuss the myriad of problems
associated with the illicit drug.

"When I ask local sheriffs and prosecutors what is the biggest problem they
face, metham-phetamine comes up time and time again," Durbin said. "The
battle against methamphetamine presents a tremendous challenge to the state
of Illinois."

Durbin held the discussion on methamphetamine at the Franklin County
Juvenile Detention Center, the second stop in deep Southern Illinois on a
two-day swing through the region.

Durbin began his day at Richland Community College in Decatur, where he
participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Farm Progress Center. He
also made a stop at Vandalia where he held a news conference to announce
federal funding for construction of a project that will upgrade U.S. 51
from a two-lane highway to a four-lane system from Decatur to Centralia.

Prior to the Benton stop Durbin also held a similar press conference in
Mount Vernon, where he announced funding to complete the upgrades to the
access roads needed to open the second interchange that will improve access
to Interstate 57 and Interstate 64 for the southwest portion of the city.

Durbin is co-sponsor of the Combat Meth Act, a bill that would authorize
$860 million in funds nationwide to provide training to state, county and
local prosecutors and law enforcement agents for investigation and
prosecution of methamphetamine offenses.

The bill also includes a "set-aside" for prosecutors and law enforcement
agents for rural communities and directs the Attorney General to allocate
funds for the hiring and training of special assistant U.S. attorneys.

Durbin emphasized that while the money has been authorized, it has not yet
been appropriated.

"Congress needs to recognize the problem and provide local law enforcement
with the funds to help them combat meth-related crimes," Durbin said.
"Pretending methamphetamine is a regional problem or a socio-economic
problem is a grave mistake. Law enforcement is telling us they have a major
problem on their hands. It's time for Congress to provide them with
resources they need."

The diverse group in attendance then spelled out to Durbin the problems
that have been experienced in recent years as the methamphetamine problem
has reached epidemic proportions.

Problems posed to Durbin dealt with the availability of the precursors used
to make methamphetamine, prosecution of those caught making and using the
drug, and even the problem of both parents being arrested, leaving
authorities to deal with small children.

Franklin County State's Attorney Tom Dinn has taken a zero-tolerance
approach with those arrested on meth charges. But Dinn said prosecution of
the cases has taxed his office and said stopping the flow of meth is unlike
any other drug.

"It used to be that drugs operated like a chain and you could insert law
enforcement at any link in that chain and be successful," Dinn said. "It's
a home-grown drug; they just go to the store and buy the precursors they
need and go home and make it. It's like a daisy; it starts in the middle
and branches out. It's just very hard to get a handle on it."

Dinn also noted that stopping the flow of pseudoephedrine, what he called
the only "essential ingredient" in producing methamphetamine, would also
help in the slowing down the manufacture. Dinn said some states have made
pseudoephedrine an "over the counter" purchase. Durbin said there has also
been discussion to adopt federal standards concerning the purchase. Durbin
also noted that approximately one-third of all foster care related cases
and 50 percent of all domestic-violence-related cases statewide are
connected to methamphetamine.

Dinn said approximately 40 cases of child abuse and neglect have been
reported in Franklin County thus far this year and said 40 percent of those
are meth-related.

Jake Seymour, who serves as director of court services for the Second
Judicial Circuit, told Durbin Franklin County has received a $450,000 state
grant to participate in a meth treatment pilot program.

Seymour said the program will be in place by this fall and emphasized that
he believes education and treatment are crucial in curtailing the
escalating meth use.

"I think what we need is more emphasis in trying to keep kids from getting
involved in meth use," Seymour said. "There are no other programs like this
in the state so we really are piloting this. It's not just kids that are
already involved in crime getting involved. We've had kids that are
cheerleaders and football players get involved and because of their family
situation they didn't have to steal to get the drugs but they are still
addicted."

Seymour said 7 percent of the juveniles (ages 10-16) who are processed
through the Franklin County center are in custody on meth-related charges.

Durbin will continue his swing through Southern Illinois today with a 9:15
a.m. meeting at the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he will
discuss the facility's ability to serve new veterans from the conflicts in
Iraq and Afghanistan

At 10:30 a.m. Durbin will meet with several local community college
presidents at the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market in Herrin to
discuss higher education public policy issues.

Durbin is also scheduled to make an appearance at the Dunn-Richmond Center
in Carbondale and also attend the Southern Illinois Regional Social
Services 45th Anniversary Open House at the Carbondale Civic Center on
Tuesday afternoon.