Frist applauds anti-methamphetamine provision

Initiative will restrict sales of cold medicines in all 50 states   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) today applauded Senate passage of the Commerce, Justice and Science (C-J-S) appropriations bill.  The spending bill includes an amendment cosponsored by Frist that restricts the sale of over-the-counter cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine which is frequently used to manufacture methamphetamines.           “The growing use of methamphetamines across America poses serious health risks to individuals while also threatening to destroy families and entire communities,” said Frist.  “I’ve been particularly disturbed by the impact this highly addictive and hugely destructive drug has had on communities at home in Tennessee.  Meth use often leads to violent crimes, child abuse and debilitating health effects that ruin lives and tear families apart.  Tennessee has already passed its own law moving cold medicines behind the counter, but not all states have similar laws.  For example, addicts are still able to cross the border into North Carolina where they can purchase large quantities of medicines with pseudoephedrine and bring them back across the state line into Tennessee.  That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in cosponsoring this common sense legislation that will hamper the ability of addicts to make, obtain and spread this toxic drug in Tennessee.   “The ‘Combat Meth Act’ is a necessary law that can help limit and control the sale of drugs that are tearing at the social fabric of communities across Tennessee.  Restricting access to meth precursors can empower local law enforcement and health and social services whose resources are being drained by growing numbers of meth users. Today’s passage is a meaningful first step, and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support inclusion of this provision in the final bill so we can stop this growing health and moral crisis.” The “Combat Meth Act of 2005” includes measures that move cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy counters.  Specifically, it amends the Controlled Substances Act to treat qualifying medicines as Schedule V controlled substances.  The bill also limits the amount of pseudoephedrine that one person can purchase in a month to 7.5 grams while requiring an ID and signature for purchases.  The measure permits the Drug Enforcement Agency to develop alternative approaches for regulating stores in rural communities or without pharmacies, and also allows states to develop stricter standards for the sale of pseudoephedrine products. This legislation would also create a national Meth Treatment Center to study effective treatments for abuse, and authorizes $43 million for enforcement, training and research into treatment.  The C-J-S appropriations bill will now be sent to a conference with the House of Representatives. In 2004, Tennessee ranked second in the nation in the number of meth lab seizures.  Last year Frist worked with Senator Alexander and Congressman Wamp to double funding for the East Tennessee Methamphetamine Taskforce to $2 million to support additional law enforcement training and interdiction efforts.  Last year’s funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Conference Report.