METH TASK FORCE SEEKS WAYS TO DEAL WITH STATE SCOURGE

NASHVILLE - The Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse began
looking for ways Tuesday to deal with what Gov. Phil Bredesen called a
scourge on the state.

The broadly constituted 20-member task force will report to Bredesen by
Sept. 1.

"The bottom line is we've got a serious problem on our hands," Bredesen
told the group. "What I'm looking for is some down-to-earth,
straightforward things we can do to begin tackling this problem."

Meth has already caused about 700 children to be in state custody because
their parents or guardians were arrested for dealing with the drug.

"That has to be extraordinarily expensive, but forget the expense,"
Bredesen said. "Just look at the number of lives. These are innocents,
these children. I get more concerned about that. Many of these lives will
be ruined, and we need to deal with it."

The task force was told by DEA agent Harry Summers, a veteran of more than
20 years in the antidrug business, that methamphetamine is the most
addictive drug he has ever seen.

Bredesen said he didn't want to wait until next year to do something and
announced Tuesday the administration is attempting to increase the
penalties for dealing methamphetamine to align them with the penalties for
dealing crack or powdered cocaine.