Bredesen outlines anti-meth package

Governor Phil Bredesen Thursday outlined the major components of comprehensive legislation to address methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse in Tennessee, and took another step toward raising public awareness by proclaiming March as “Meth-Free Tennessee Month.” “The illegal manufacturing and abuse of methamphetamine is one of the most serious threats facing rural Tennessee and it’s rapidly spreading into urban and suburban areas as well,” Bredesen said. “It’s a scourge that needs to be dealt with, swiftly and convincingly.” Meth, a powerfully addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, is produced in clandestine laboratories across Tennessee using relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that Tennessee now accounts for 75% of meth lab seizures in the Southeast. From October 2003 to August 2004, law enforcement authorities seized nearly 1,200 labs in the Volunteer State — a 397% increase from 2000. The drug is particularly harmful to children. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services reports more than 700 children are being taken into state custody each year as a result of meth lab seizures and incidents. Particularly at risk are infants and toddlers living in homes in which toxic lab emissions and residue settle on floors and furniture. The Governor is attacking the problem through a variety of measures contained in SB2318 and HB 2334, otherwise known as the “Meth-Free Tennessee Act of 2005.” The legislation, the product of intense study conducted last year by the Governor’s Task on Methamphetamine Abuse, is being handled by legislative members of the Governor’s Task Force, including Senators Charlotte Burks and Randy McNally and Representatives Charles Curtiss and Les Winningham. The legislation also is being carried by Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle and House Majority Leader Kim McMillan. Bredesen said the legislation represents “a sensible approach that acknowledges our state’s very real need to control a drug that could very well become uncontrollable if we don’t act now.” To date, the Governor’s anti-meth package has won support from a number of groups, including the Legislative Black Caucus, the Public Safety Coalition (representing police chiefs, sheriffs and district attorneys general) and the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. Major provisions of the bill include: • Limitations on the sale of cold and sinus products containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine, the vital ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. While many pseudoephedrine products will go behind the counter in licensed pharmacies, liquids and gel caps will be exempt from restrictions because they currently are not deemed viable in the meth manufacturing process. • Closure of the so-called “personal-use loophole” in criminal law, which allows meth cooks to secure lighter penalties by claiming they manufactured the drug only for personal use. • Requirement for health professionals to report meth lab-related burns and injuries to local law enforcement, similar to the existing requirement to report gun-shot and knife wounds. • Creation of an online registry within the Department of Environment and Conservation listing properties quarantined by law enforcement due to meth-lab contamination. A separate registry will be created within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation listing the names and offenses of convicted meth cooks. Separate from the legislation, the Governor’s FY05-06 budget includes nearly $7 million to attack the meth problem in Tennessee. Among other items, the budget includes: • $2.4 million for increased criminal penalties for meth-related crimes, including closure of the personal-use loophole. • $1.7 million to launch a drug court pilot project endorsed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to test the effectiveness of a combination of treatment and light incarceration • $1.5 million to launch a statewide education and public awareness campaign. • $600,000 to provide meth-lab response training to law enforcement and other first responders. In advance of the legislative debate, Bredesen memorialized his commitment to stamping out meth abuse by proclaiming March to be “Meth-Free Tennessee Month.” In signing the proclamation, the Governor acknowledged the war against meth will be a “moving target” that will require a coordinated commitment from the federal, state and local governments. “We’re not going to solve the meth problem overnight,” the Governor said. “But if we stay focused on the fundamental issues, then we’re going to have an impact and make a difference.” For more information visit www.methfreetn.org.