LAWMAKERS FIGHT METH WITH BILLS

Urban, Rural Leaders Sponsor Legislation To Combat Problem

SPRINGFIELD - Methamphetamine has become the drug of choice for many in
central Illinois, prompting lawmakers to launch a dozen legislative
proposals targeting the fiercely addictive homemade high.

All the efforts share a common thread. They create new crimes or harsher
sentences for offenses and, more specifically, meth makers.

Two of those efforts have the support of Attorney General Lisa Madigan,
which some say is an indication that fighting meth is no longer the sole
burden of rural communities.

"As more people are becoming addicted to it, and as this problem grows,
obviously it's translating over into the urban communities as well. I think
that she's done a good job of getting that word out," said Sen. John
Sullivan, a Rushville Democrat who is backing the efforts sponsored by
Madigan. "It absolutely is a statewide problem."

One of Sullivan's bills would force convicted meth makers to repay
government agencies that clean up meth labs. The other doubles the
penalties for manufacturers who expose children to their illegal craft.
Other bills up for consideration during the current legislative session
seek to protect law enforcement and emergency personnel.

Growing in Galesburg

Rep. Don Moffitt, a Gilson Republican, has seen meth make its way north
into his mostly rural district that includes the city of Galesburg. As a
farmer, he now must secure his tanks of anhydrous ammonia, an extremely
volatile fertilizer often used to cook meth. As a father, he has a
different concern. His son Justin, is a Galesburg firefighter.

"That makes it real personal," Moffitt said. "He's been on some calls that
were caused by alleged meth labs."

Moffitt is sponsoring legislation to classify the ingredients used to make
the drug as explosive or incendiary, a rule change that would expand the
repertoire of charges available to prosecutors.

Bloomington Bills

Meth makers who start a fire or endanger emergency response personnel could
see new felony charges under a series of bills Rep. Dan Brady,
R-Bloomington, is pushing.

Other legislative efforts seek to protect children from meth production,
repay units that have to clean up the labs and make it easier to charge
those making or gathering the ingredients to cook meth.

None of the 12 proposals address drug education or rehabilitation, which
Brady said is indicative of the state's dire financial straits.

Tazewell Troubles

"No matter how tough you get with criminal penalties, you still have to
address the addiction," said Tazewell County state's attorney Stewart
Umholtz. "What the experts are telling me is it's going to take specialized
treatments."

State statistics compiled from 1994 to 2001 show Tazewell County has
moderate meth activity. Umholtz said his caseload has mushroomed over the
past two years.

Peoria's Poor

Peoria County registers less activity, but state's attorney Kevin Lyons
said he does see the drug prey on people, especially the poor.

"I hear some people refer to it as the drug of choice for white trash," he
said. "I don't describe it that way because I have a hard time describing
people in that way."

Although he said it hasn't happened yet, Lyons worries meth will make its
way into the county's high schools. But there are signs it may already be
seeping in.

Nasty Detox

"We see kids and adults in that area coming in with meth addiction," said a
counselor from the Gateway Foundation, an addiction treatment center in
Springfield. "Previously with kids it was more marijuana, alcohol."

Because recovering teens confide in him, the counselor wished to keep his
name confidential. He said his workload has increased the last few years as
meth use has gained popularity in central Illinois.

In addition to insured patients, Gateway also treats a number of recovering
addicts who rely on government assistance to pay for treatment. On any
given day, as many as 600 poor Illinoisans are on waiting lists for drug
treatment.

Completing that treatment is often more difficult for those seeking to kick
meth.

The counselor confirmed Umholtzs assertion: Recovering users need
specialized care, especially during initial detoxification.

Characterized by unbearable cravings, the first stage can last a month, and
users often succumb to their cravings, the counselor said.

In general, the residential stay for a recovering meth addict lasts longer
than with any other drug, he added.

That could be a problem for poor youths who get hooked on the stimulant.
Last year the state placed a 120-day limit on residential drug treatment
for those 18 or younger.

Recourse, Not Recovery

For now, legislators appear more focused on recourse than recovery. This
session's legislative package specifically targets meth manufacturers. But
the homemade nature of the drug makes law enforcement's task much more
difficult.

"In most narcotic and contraband trafficking cases, theres a gauntlet or a
pipeline that the drug comes from," Lyons said. "In this case, a single
person can produce the sellable product from start to finish."

Often, the drug is made among a small circle of users, a culture Brady
wants to break up with a bill that would create the crime of "conspiracy to
manufacture" meth."

Brady also is sponsoring legislation carrying a felony offense for
possession of at least 3 grams of the chemicals used to make meth. More
importantly, the legislation reduces the burden placed on law enforcement
to determine the intent of possessing those substances.