SEN. BOND URGES STATE TO SUPPORT ANTI-METH PROGRAM

Jefferson City, Mo. -- U.S. Sen. Kit Bond on Wednesday asked a Senate panel
to support a bill that would put the administration of a federal
anti-methamphetamine program under state control.

Two years ago, Bond, R-Mo., created the Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine
Relief Team, which uses federal funding for local law enforcement efforts
to fight the production and distribution of the highly addictive drug.

Bond said that while he has been able to secure federal funding for the
program over the last few years, he said that stream of money may soon dry
up as other states jockey for it.

""I'm not sure how long I will be successful," Bond told the Senate Civil
and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. ""I believe it is essential that the
state move in."

Since the establishment of the program, law enforcement has received $5.6
million for 33 local sheriff's offices and 16 multi-county task forces.

""The program allows those on the front lines to assess the needs of their
colleagues and provide the assistance they need at a critical time," Bond said.

Bond said there has been obvious successes with the program. In 2000, 906
methamphetamine arrests were made while last year that number jumped to 2,239.

Under a bill sponsored by Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, the program would
be sponsored by the state Department of Public Safety, which would allow
state funding.

""We'd like to address some of the issues in the rural communities,"
Cauthorn told the committee, which did not vote on the bill.

Methamphetamine is made with over-the-counter medications and a variety of
chemicals, including anhydrous ammonia, ether and rat poison.