FINDINGS OF METH TASK FORCE UNVEILED LAST WEEK

State Representative Chapin Rose and fellow members of the Illinois House
Republican Methamphetamine Crisis Task Force on Friday, Jan. 21 unveiled
their findings from recent statewide hearings and new initiatives to fight
Illinois' growing methamphetamine abuse crisis.

"Late last summer we held 14 public hearings throughout the state to
determine what we can do to assist our local communities fight the
manufacture, use and spread of this deadly drug," said Rose (R-Mahomet), a
co-chairman of the task force. "Today we presented stories and testimony
from the front line of this battle and new measures we are proposing to
help us win."

"Perhaps the most important thing we learned at our hearings is that
procedures in place to deal with other offenders don't work with meth
abusers. Solving this problem will require new, creative approaches to
treating meth abusers, while protecting the rest of the community," said
State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), the other co-chair of the
task force.

The production and use of methamphetamine while on the rise statewide is
most prevalent in small rural communities. This is due to better access to
anhydrous ammonia, a key ingredient, and a lessened risk of discovery due
to the distinct odors created during the manufacturing process.

In the year 2000, Illinois State Police reported 403 encounters with
clandestine meth labs. By 2003, that number escalated to 1,099.

The Task Force report indicates that the average meth user is a 34-year-old
white male. However, some counties have seen dramatic increases in the
number of females using meth.

One of the most disturbing findings is that one-third of the meth labs
discovered by law enforcement last year were in homes with children present.

Based on testimony at the hearings, the task force has developed an
innovative strategy to combat meth use and to treat abusers. The
cornerstone of the new plan calls for the establishment of a statewide
"Drug Court" system.

"While this is a new idea in Illinois, drug courts have been utilized very
successfully in other areas of the country to lower both the instances of
repeat offenses and the cost to the state," said Rose. "A national study
conducted last year showed that the re-arrest rate for drug court graduates
was approximately 16 percent. Compare that to the recidivism rate for
incarcerated drug offenders here in Illinois in 2002, which was 45 percent."

Rose also added that Illinois' annual cost of incarcerating a drug offender
is $23,812 per year. Whereas, drug court costs per offender vary but may be
as low as $2,000 per person per year.

Other legislative initiatives task force members will introduce in the
Illinois General Assembly this spring will include:

- - Making possession of any amount of meth a Class X Felony.

- - Creating a new Department of Human Services Pilot Program to provide
increased access to meth treatment.

- - Instituting new measures to help local emergency agencies recoup
resources expended for the costly and dangerous clean up of meth lab sites.
The average cost of a clean up for a small lab is approximately $5,000.

- - Establishing an Illinois State Police Meth Hotline for reporting
suspected or known meth lab sites.

- - Developing a standard protocol for the schools, DCFS, and law enforcement
to follow in cases involving children.

"We are especially concerned about children subjected to meth labs," said
Rose. Rose continued, "Our hearings unearthed a disturbing trend in
breakdowns of protocol between DCFS, schools, and law enforcement where
minor children our concerned. Our recommendations will help fix this problem."