FIGHT AGAINST METH MAY BE MISSING BIG TARGETS

The new legislation requiring pharmacist oversight of pseudoephedrine sales
is a good step to combat the growing problem of meth addiction, but it may
have a limited effect. In fact, 80 percent of methamphetamine is supplied
by Mexican drug cartels using "super labs" located in central California.

These super labs represent only 4 percent of the meth labs in the United
States. It would seem that this new legislation targeting "home" labs will
not stem the flow of meth to a substantial degree.

Meth addiction is particularly troublesome in Oregon and the West Coast in
general. I have been reading reports that methamphetamine use is on the
rise across the country, including small, rural towns in middle America.

It is about time that state and federal law enforcement agencies coordinate
efforts to crack down on all sources of methamphetamine and that United
States government officials begin working in earnest with the governments
of countries which have chemical manufacturers that sell the
methamphetamine cartels the bulk supplies needed for production.

We should immediately address this problem on all fronts; otherwise, as a
society, we will continue to pay a heavy price for our inaction.

- -- Cynthia Pedersen

Salem