News (Media Awareness Project) - US IN: Meth Abuse Cited As Top Drug Problem For Law |
| Title: | US IN: Meth Abuse Cited As Top Drug Problem For Law |
| Published On: | 2005-07-06 |
| Source: | Washington Post (DC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-16 00:40:46 |
METH ABUSE CITED AS TOP DRUG PROBLEM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Increase In Arrests Has Taxed Other County Departments; White House
Says Marijuana Is Still No. 1 Woe
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The crippling reach of methamphetamine abuse has
become the nation's leading drug problem affecting local law
enforcement agencies, according to a survey of 500 sheriff's
departments in 45 states.
More than half of the sheriffs interviewed for a National Association
of Counties survey released Tuesday said they considered meth the
most serious problem facing their departments.
"We're finding out that this is a bigger problem than we thought,"
said Larry Naake, executive director of the association. "Folks at
the state and federal level need to know about this."
About 90 percent of those interviewed reported increases in
meth-related arrests in their counties over the past three years,
packing jails in the Midwest and elsewhere.
The arrests also have swamped other county-level agencies that assist
with caring for children whose parents have become addicted and with
cleaning up toxic chemicals left behind by meth cookers.
The report comes soon after the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy restated its stance that marijuana remains the
nation's most substantial drug problem. Federal estimates show there
are 15 million marijuana users compared with the 1 million that may use meth.
Dave Murray, a policy analyst for the White House, said he
understands that the meth problem moving through the nation is
serious and substantial. But he disagrees that it has become an epidemic.
"This thing is burning, and because it's burning, we're going to put
it out," he said. "But we can't turn our back on other threats."
Sheriff Jon R. Marvel of western Indiana's Vigo County estimates that
80 percent of the inmates in his county's jail in Terre Haute are
held on meth-related charges.
He also points to an operating budget that has risen from $800,000 in
1999 to about $3.4 million last year to illustrate how policing meth
has used county resources.
Increase In Arrests Has Taxed Other County Departments; White House
Says Marijuana Is Still No. 1 Woe
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The crippling reach of methamphetamine abuse has
become the nation's leading drug problem affecting local law
enforcement agencies, according to a survey of 500 sheriff's
departments in 45 states.
More than half of the sheriffs interviewed for a National Association
of Counties survey released Tuesday said they considered meth the
most serious problem facing their departments.
"We're finding out that this is a bigger problem than we thought,"
said Larry Naake, executive director of the association. "Folks at
the state and federal level need to know about this."
About 90 percent of those interviewed reported increases in
meth-related arrests in their counties over the past three years,
packing jails in the Midwest and elsewhere.
The arrests also have swamped other county-level agencies that assist
with caring for children whose parents have become addicted and with
cleaning up toxic chemicals left behind by meth cookers.
The report comes soon after the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy restated its stance that marijuana remains the
nation's most substantial drug problem. Federal estimates show there
are 15 million marijuana users compared with the 1 million that may use meth.
Dave Murray, a policy analyst for the White House, said he
understands that the meth problem moving through the nation is
serious and substantial. But he disagrees that it has become an epidemic.
"This thing is burning, and because it's burning, we're going to put
it out," he said. "But we can't turn our back on other threats."
Sheriff Jon R. Marvel of western Indiana's Vigo County estimates that
80 percent of the inmates in his county's jail in Terre Haute are
held on meth-related charges.
He also points to an operating budget that has risen from $800,000 in
1999 to about $3.4 million last year to illustrate how policing meth
has used county resources.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
