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| Congressman Walden (center), experts from law enforcement, anti-drug coalitions, and local, state and federal government discuss the rampant use of methamphetamine and the production problems facing our communities and what can be done at the local level to help advance the fight against meth. |
"METHAMPHETAMINE IS THE MOST PERSONALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DANGEROUS DRUG PROBLEM IN OREGON." - White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
"IN MY 34 YEARS IN THIS PROFESSION, METHAMPHETAMINE IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE SUBSTANCE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED." - Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniels
The rampant increase in methamphetamine ("meth") production, trafficking and abuse in recent years is cause for concern throughout the entire United States, especially in Oregon. With just over one percent of the nation's population, Oregon had more than seven percent of all admissions for substance abuse treatment throughout the country; and this toxic poison is now second only to alcohol for such admissions in the state.
The Second District - which includes eastern, central and southern Oregon - has been hit especially hard. While the district has 20% of the state's population, it hosted 35% of all meth labs seized throughout the state in 2004, and the trend unfortunately held steady in 2005 - a statistic not to be proud of.
With the strong support of Congressman Walden and other members of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, Congress recently passed - and the President signed into law - strong provisions to advance the fight against methamphetamine on a national level. As a result of his diligence on this issue, Walden was asked to join the President and a handful of congressional leaders for the signing ceremony at the White House. Additionally, Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN), who held an official congressional field hearing on the meth epidemic in Pendleton at Congressman Walden's request, is to be commended for his leadership on this issue.
This comprehensive legislation was written in a collaborative manner to address fundamental issues pertaining to precursor ingredients, criminal punishment and diplomatic efforts. Provisions included would: classify pseudoephedrine and ephedrine as “Schedule Listed Chemicals,” requiring a national standard for sale from behind the counter or from a locked case on the sales floor (this would not preempt more stringent laws such as the successful ones enacted in Oregon); require retailers to maintain a log of identification and signatures for all sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products; mandate store training for employees selling such products; reduce federal limits on per-sale and per-month purchase of pseudoephedrine products to 3.6 grams and 9.0 grams respectively; repeal the federal “blister-pack exemption” that allowed for unlimited sale quantities of blister packed medicine; require the State Department to identify the five largest importers and five largest exporters of key precursor meth ingredients, directing that these countries comply with international efforts to track shipments of such products or face reduced eligibility for U.S. foreign aid; increase the maximum prison term for possession of precursor ingredients with an intent to manufacture meth; allow an additional 10-20 years to be added to other established penalties for an individuals convicted of making meth in the presence of a child; establish grants to state and local governments for law enforcement agencies to aid in the investigation of meth trafficking and to help reimburse costs incurred by the DEA for clean-up of toxic meth lab sites; and, authorize grants for treatment of pregnant women addicted to meth and meth-endangered children living in a home where meth was produced, distributed and/or used.
In order to help raise awareness about this growing scourge, Congressman Walden held a series of seven town hall summits throughout the Second District in the spring of 2005. These summits brought together law enforcement, anti-drug coalitions, representatives from Governor Kulongoski's office and his methamphetamine task force, and officials from local, state and federal government. With attendance numbering in the hundreds at these events, it was encouraging to see so many community members, business owners, parents and students gather to learn about the toxicity of this poison and what they can do to help put an end to its vicious grasp. Greg would like to thank all of the panelists and attendees for making these events so successful.
Congressman Walden's office is in constant contact with those who helped bring these summits to life, and he has worked hard to forge a strong relationship with federal leaders on this issue, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). ONDCP Deputy Director Scott Burns traveled to Oregon with him for his summits in Medford and Grants Pass and also went to Pendleton in August 2004 to meet with the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT). DEA Special Agent Ken Magee, who oversees Agency activity in Oregon, Idaho and southwest Washington, joined Greg for several of the summits as well. Greg will continue to work with these - and the many other talented professionals and organizations on the ground in Oregon - as the fight against meth advances.
Walden is currently engaged in efforts to ensure that Congress adequately funds drug enforcement and prevention activities in its fiscal year 2007 budget. He has written to the Director of ONDCP expressing strong concern regarding proposed cuts in the President's FY07 budget to both the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and Byrne Grant programs. Three counties in the Second District have been designated as HIDTAs: Umatilla, Jackson and Deschutes. You can read that letter here.
Please take a minute to read "Crystal Meth," a very powerful poem written by a young man awaiting transfer to an Oklahoma State Penetentiary for meth-related crimes.
Visit www.MethResources.gov to get more information on methamphetamine, including information on education and prevention. This is a terrific site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT METHAMPHETAMINE:
- Meth addicts can experience symptoms similar to those in Alzheimer's, stroke and epilepsy patients
- For every pound of meth produced, five-six pounds of toxic waste are produced
- 54 innocent children were found at meth lab seizures in Oregon in 2003
- Meth is easy and cheap to produce with ingredients found at local neighborhood stores: ephedrine/pseudoephedrine from cold medicine, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide from drain cleaner, lithium from batteries, engine additives, rubbing alcohol, anhydrous ammonia - which is a chemical used in fertilizer, and camp stove fuel
- The number of young females being admitted for meth treatment has increased 57% since 1999
- Some forms of meth make you physically hooked after only one hit
- The National Association of Counties released a survey in which 60% of all counties listed methamphetamine as their number one drug problem.
Co-Sponsored Legislation
H.R. 3889 - The "Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act" was introduced by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. The bill contains several provisions to control retail sales of precursor ingredients, enhance penalties for meth cooks, provide resources for treatment of meth-affected children and pregnant women, and bolster international efforts to curb meth production and trafficking.
H.R. 13 - The "CLEAN-UP of Methamphetamine Act" is sponsored by Rep. Kennedy (R-MN) to establish the CLEAN-UP of methamphetamines - to clean, learn, education, abolish, neutralize and undermine the production of meth.
H.R. 313 - The "Exile Meth Act" is sponsored by Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) implementing a new program providing states with funding so that they may change laws to match federal sentencing guidelines. These funds could be available to states with the most severe meth problems, such as Oregon.
H.R. 314 - The "Combat Meth Act of 2005" is sponsored by Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) to provide resources and tools to law enforcement and prosecutors to crack down on producers and distributors of meth, increase community awareness and establish new treatment options.
H.R. 798 - The "Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005" is sponsored by Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN) and calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to establish voluntary guidelines to assist state and local governments in the remediation of former meth lab sites while also calling for various research programs aimed at increasing our knowledge of environmental and property contamination.
H.R. 1616 - The "Protecting Children from Drugs Act of 2005" is sponsored by Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and amends the Controlled Substance Act to provide an increased penalty for endangering the life of a child while illegally manufacturing a controlled substance. The bill raises the maximum possible sentence for producing illicit from ten years to twenty years when a minor is present.
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