Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

take action
For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 

New Okla. Meth Law Gains National Attention
August 27, 2004

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

Oklahoma's new law to curb the production of methamphetamine has piqued the interest of the Bush administration, the Oklahoman reported Aug. 24.

Under the law, decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth-making, are stored behind the counter at licensed pharmacies. Consumers must show identification before buying the products.

White House deputy drug czar Scott Burns recently visited Oklahoma to see if the law could be applied nationally. "President Bush sent me here. Drug czar John Walters sent me here to find out what they are doing in Oklahoma that has made such a dramatic difference," Burns said. "So far the results are remarkable. I traveled the country from Massachusetts to California to Texas and every village and hamlet in between, and they all want to know: How is it that Oklahoma has reduced drug labs by 50 to 70 percent in such a short amount of time?"

According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, in March, when the law first took effect, the agency confiscated 100 meth labs statewide. In April, the number declined to 62 labs, and to 29 in May.

Burns is studying whether the law would work best applied nationally or left to individual states.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines