METH TASK FORCE MUST ADDRESS REHAB

NASHVILLE - The task force appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to address the
state's growing methamphetamine problem has wrapped up its series of public
hearings and is due to present its recommendations within the next few
weeks. Methamphetamine, or meth for short, is also known as speed and crank.
It's the fastest growing drug threat in America. That's due largely to the
fact that it's easy to manufacture from readily obtainable chemicals and
produces a high that outlasts cocaine.

To say meth abuse has reached epidemic proportions in Tennessee is not an
exaggeration. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates 75 percent
of meth lab seizures in the southeastern part of the country occur in
Tennessee. That's not an area Tennessee should be proud to lead in.

Bredesen deserves considerable credit for tackling the problem head on. In
addition to appointing the task force, he also proposed legislation to
toughen criminal penalties for meth possession. It's now a Class B felony -
the same as crack and cocaine - and carries a penalty of between eight and
30 years in prison.

The task force's recommendations will likely produce a bumper crop of bills
to deal with all aspects of meth manufacture and abuse. They will be as
varied in scope as the problems caused by the drug. For instance, one
recommendation will likely be to limit the sale of over-the-counter sinus
mediations like Sudafed that contain pseudoephedrine because it's one of the
key ingredients in the meth recipe.

Another critical concern is how to clean up property where meth has been
cooked. Manufacturing the drug produces hazardous waste, which poses
significant health and environmental risks. Every pound of meth produced
leaves behind about six pounds of toxic waste. Cleaning up a meth lab costs
an average of $5,000.

The cost that is more difficult to quantify in a dollars-and-sense way is
the human factor. As previously stated, meth is highly addictive and toxic.
Exposure to the chemicals is extremely harmful to children and can also lead
to addiction later in life. Nationwide, ten percent of meth users indicate
they were introduced to the drug by a parent or other family member.

Sadly, recidivism rates are quite high among meth users. It's not uncommon
for a meth junkie to post bond, return home and cook up another batch of the
stimulant. An extreme approach to this problem would be to deny bond for
meth offenders. That proposal might surface, but it would likely meet with
considerable objection from the state's bail bondsmen come January.

A more practical approach would be to establish court-ordered treatment
programs. This would address the root cause of the problem, which is
addiction. By investing in drug courts and other programs, the state could
take a big step toward eliminating the problem once and for all.

This can be done with minimal cost to taxpayers. That's because Tennessee
recently received a $17.8 million federal Access to Recovery Grant to expand
substance abuse treatment. Clients will be screened through drug courts,
local health departments and other authorized treatment providers. They will
then receive vouchers to cover the cost of treatment and recovery services
from approved providers.

It's important to keep in mind that profit usually isn't a motive in meth
production. Batches of the drug are primarily produced to meet individual
needs. Dealers don't make it in quantities sufficient for resale. They also
don't have assets like large cars and fancy houses commonly associated with
drug dealers. Many are lucky to have roofs over their heads by the time
they're busted. Even if they do, the assets are contaminated by the chemical
residue and must be disposed of or cleaned.

Tennessee must act now in order to avoid breeding another generation of meth
addicts. The meth problem has many moving parts, and it's important to
address them all. The task force has done a thorough job of researching the
issue, and members should be commended for their hard work and dedication.
Hopefully lawmakers will heed their recommendations when the legislature
reconvenes in January.