METH USE 'SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE' REP. MATHENY TELLS DRUG TASK FORCE

State Rep. Judd Matheny told the Tullahoma Drug Task Force that
methamphetamine abuse in Tennessee is "spreading like wildfire," and he is
currently working on legislation to strengthen the penalties for meth labs
and put stricter controls on the chemicals used to make meth.

Matheny, who was attending a three-day Methamphetamine Response Conference
in Nashville, took time to attend the luncheon meeting of the Tullahoma
Drug Task Force Tuesday.

Tullahoma Police Chief J.C. Ferrell, Coffee County District Attorney Mickey
Layne, members of the Mayor's Youth Council and other community groups
listened to Matheny discuss ways methamphetamine use and manufacture is
costing the state lives and money.

Life expectancy for a meth addict is less than five years and the relapse
rate for users who try to get off the drug is between 90 and 95 percent.

The cost is especially high for children of users. Currently more than 700
children in Tennessee are in foster care because their parents were dealing
in or manufacturing meth in the home.

Clothing, furniture and the homes themselves are usually so contaminated by
the chemicals used in the manufacturing process that it is unsafe for
children to return.

Matheny also talked about the cost to clean up the toxic mess left by the
methamphetamine manufacturing process.

Meth labs are often contained in a box or cooler for greater portability,
but it still costs an average of $4,000 to clean up just the chemical
contamination.

Police officers or firefighters responding to the scene of a meth lab bust
must be trained to deal with the toxic chemical mix.

Billy Cook, an investigator with the Coffee County District Attorney's
office, said, "Tullahoma and Coffee County are fortunate to have a dozen
trained officers so we're well ahead of the curve."

Once the chemicals are properly disposed of, it's up to a landlord, a hotel
or motel operator or homeowner to completely decontaminate a unit. Matheny
says currently there's a lot of "looking the other way," when it comes to
complete decontamination after a meth lab discovery.

There is also the danger of explosions or fire associated with the
production of meth. Matheny said there are several severely burned patients
in Nashville hospitals on TennCare who were injured when meth labs blew up.

Matheny told the group he is working on several steps to combat the growing
meth problem in the state. He is working to raise methamphetamine charges
to a Class D felony allowing for greater penalties.

Matheny also wants to "go after the chemicals before they get to the
manufacturers." Meth is made from common household products.

Matheny wants wholesalers and retailers to limit the amount an individual
can buy and to require a photo I.D., signature and statement of use from
anyone buying a suspicious quantity of cold medicines, rubbing alcohol or
matches.

Matheny said lawmakers are considering penalties for retailers who don't
follow the law like taking away their liquor sales and disqualifying them
from lottery sales.

Similar legislation proposed last year was defeated, but Matheny said the
problem has grown so severe the measure has a better chance of passing this
session.

Police Chief Ferrell said city retailers are already cooperating with law
enforcement by notifying them of large purchases of suspicious chemicals.

Alderman Troy Bisby asked what could be done locally to combat meth.
Matheny suggested being an alert neighbor. "When you're out walking the
dog, if you see something strange like a large number of empty cold
medicine packages in somebody's trash, report it," Matheny said.

Ferrell said any groups wishing to get training in identifying the signs of
a meth lab could contact his office for more information.

Matheny also mentioned a community informational meeting on methamphetamine
to be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at First Christian Church in Tullahoma.