BILLS WOULD TRY TO STEM USE OF METHAMPHETAMINE

Officials Want To Limit Access To A Key Ingredient Of The Drug That's Found
In Some Cold Medicines.

A number of lawmakers and state law enforcement officials are working
on bills that would limit access a key component of methamphetamine,
which has become a serious problem in northern Wisconsin.

"It's kind of a hot topic right now," said Cindy Giese, special agent
in charge of the state's meth task force, based in Altoona. "I'm
trying to get everybody to work together so we can get the best
legislation possible."

Twenty states are considering legislation to impose restrictions on
cold medications. The pharmaceutical industry and grocery and drug
store trade associations have opposed such efforts.

Among the efforts in Wisconsin:

* Rep. Dave Travis, D-Waunakee, has proposed legislation that would
remove cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient
used to make meth, from store shelves.

* A group of northwestern Wisconsin legislators, led by state Sen.
Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, is working with law enforcement
officials on another bill.

* Reps. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, and Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, are
working on their own legislation.

* The state Justice Department is joining with other legislators to
draft a bill intended to slow the spread of the highly addictive drug
across Wisconsin.

All of the attention comes as welcome news to Eau Claire County
Sheriff Ron Cramer, who has seen meth destroy lives and increase crime.

While the biggest problems have come in St. Croix, Polk and Pierce
counties, Eau Claire police records show meth-related arrests more
than quadrupled there from 11 in 2003 to 47 in 2004.

While details of the bills aren't worked out yet, it's clear that all
of the proposals would involve putting some restrictions on products
with pseudoephedrine.

Legislators will have to debate just how restrictive to make the bill,
Suder said.

"We don't want to cut off access to cold medicine, but we do want to
cut off the supplies of those who buy these products in bulk and use
it to kill other people by making methamphetamine," Suder said.