News (Media Awareness Project) - US TN: Editorial: Meth Burning Devastating Path in State |
| Title: | US TN: Editorial: Meth Burning Devastating Path in State |
| Published On: | 2004-03-24 |
| Source: | Mountain Press, The (TN) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-18 13:55:26 |
METH BURNING DEVASTATING PATH IN STATE
Would you live near a house where there was a potential for a deadly explosion?
Would you stay at a hotel where dangerous chemicals were right next door?
Would you drive behind a car that was filled with toxic materials?
Knowingly, we wouldn't do any of these things. Unknowingly, we may have -
or may be doing so now - right here in Sevier County.
Homes, hotel rooms and vehicles have all been sites for alleged
methamphetamine labs.
Right here in Sevier County.
Across the state it's more of the same.
Drug dealers and meth addicts gather up a variety of chemicals, many
laughingly easy to procure, and turn into mad scientists.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports Tennessee accounts for
approximately 75 percent of the methamphetamine lab seizures in the
Southeast, and Sevier County is right in the thick of the epidemic. More
meth lab raids have been made in Sevier County than any of its surrounding
counties in the last five years, and the problem is growing.
However, a special legislative committee appointed to study dozens of bills
and find a solution to the spread of meth pretty much gave up on Monday.
They couldn't get together on the best approach and were hampered by the
fact that money to enact most of the proposals would be hard to get. The
proposals would increase jail time for users and producers.
They did decide to ask Gov. Phil Bredesen to work with the Legislature to
create a task force that could spend more time on the issue and recommend a
comprehensive solution when lawmakers return - in January.
As a former law enforcement officer, Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, knows
what the meth epidemic will do if left unchecked. Without solid progress
against its spread, he said meth "will be more devastating than you can
imagine."
Matheny said the drug is likely to spread from 43 to all 95 of the state's
counties by next year, meaning progress needs to be made now.
Unfortunately, meth is a wildfire burning across Tennessee - and there's
nothing on the horizon to put it out.
Would you live near a house where there was a potential for a deadly explosion?
Would you stay at a hotel where dangerous chemicals were right next door?
Would you drive behind a car that was filled with toxic materials?
Knowingly, we wouldn't do any of these things. Unknowingly, we may have -
or may be doing so now - right here in Sevier County.
Homes, hotel rooms and vehicles have all been sites for alleged
methamphetamine labs.
Right here in Sevier County.
Across the state it's more of the same.
Drug dealers and meth addicts gather up a variety of chemicals, many
laughingly easy to procure, and turn into mad scientists.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports Tennessee accounts for
approximately 75 percent of the methamphetamine lab seizures in the
Southeast, and Sevier County is right in the thick of the epidemic. More
meth lab raids have been made in Sevier County than any of its surrounding
counties in the last five years, and the problem is growing.
However, a special legislative committee appointed to study dozens of bills
and find a solution to the spread of meth pretty much gave up on Monday.
They couldn't get together on the best approach and were hampered by the
fact that money to enact most of the proposals would be hard to get. The
proposals would increase jail time for users and producers.
They did decide to ask Gov. Phil Bredesen to work with the Legislature to
create a task force that could spend more time on the issue and recommend a
comprehensive solution when lawmakers return - in January.
As a former law enforcement officer, Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, knows
what the meth epidemic will do if left unchecked. Without solid progress
against its spread, he said meth "will be more devastating than you can
imagine."
Matheny said the drug is likely to spread from 43 to all 95 of the state's
counties by next year, meaning progress needs to be made now.
Unfortunately, meth is a wildfire burning across Tennessee - and there's
nothing on the horizon to put it out.
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