TECHNOLOGY MAY GIVE STATE EDGE IN METH WARS

The state of Tennessee finally is working to gain an advantage in the
ongoing war against methamphetamine. If it is a war in which technology can
make the difference, the days of widespread meth manufacturing and use in
this state might be numbered.

To be sure, there are rough roads to travel. The best technology might
encounter problems zeroing in on meth labs hidden in the hills and hollows
of East and Middle Tennessee.

The drug is a habit-forming stimulant distilled from over-the-counter cold
medicines containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The popularity of the
drug masks the incredibly dangerous nature of manufacturing it. That process
can cause fires and explosions as well as release toxic chemicals. The costs
of cleaning up meth sites far outstrips county law enforcement budgets.

Meth-making also has a big head start, made bigger by the Legislature's
virtual inaction last session.

More than 30 bills dealing with illegally manufacturing and distributing
methamphetamine were offered. Several would have increased prison sentences
and fines.

The Tennessee Public Safety Coalition, a statewide group of district
attorney generals, chiefs of police and sheriffs, pleaded for legislation to
strengthen the criminal statutes concerning meth.

However, lawmakers punted the issue to the governor and called for a special
task force to study the problem and report next year. Fortunately, that task
force is up and running and has been asked to present its recommendations to
the governor by Sept. 1.

Last week, the task force met at Roane State Community College in Harriman
and had the opportunity to review some of the technological weapons that
likely will be used in the fight against methamphetamine. Some of that
technology involves items used to detect chemical weapons and explosives.

These include an ion scanner the Tennessee National Guard used recently in
Johnson City to detect the actual presence of meth on a child's clothes. The
handheld scanner also can detect other illegal drugs and explosives.

Likewise, hyperspectral imaging, used to detect leaking ammonia and Freon
after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001,
likely could help locate meth-making operations from the air, officials
said.

A mass spectrometer that has been used to detect chemical weapons around the
world also could be adapted to find meth labs.

In addition to technology, there is the wrenching human toll the drug takes
on the children of meth-makers.

In an 18-month period through last July, the state Department of Children's
Services took custody of about 700 children from parents who were making the
drug.

Giving the department greater resources and funding to deal with this aspect
of the problem certainly is in order.

It is good that the 20-member panel is working through the summer to explore
the problem of methamphetamine. We await the task force's report in
September.

Meanwhile, there should be no quarter given to this scourge over Tennessee
and the South.