When the crack epidemic hit in the 1980s, federal lawmakers responded by throwing the book at users and dealers. But with methamphetamine use raising similar fears, legislators are looking to international interdiction and demand reduction rather than locking users up, Congressional Quarterly reported June 5.

Some see that as progress, while others smell racism, pointing out that while crack users are mostly black urbanites, meth users are predominantly rural whites. "There seems to be more of an emphasis on shutting down these meth labs and trying to figure out ways to treat these addicts and then get them back into flow of society," says Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). "We don't get for crack or heroin that kind of support for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation."

Politicians also seem more sympathetic to the plight of meth users than they ever were to crack addicts, and are more likely to portray the former as victims, not criminals. "The difference is, meth is a white drug," says Daniel F. Wilhelm of the Vera Institute of Justice. Added Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project: "You don't see any pictures of young black men and women described as the face of meth."

Some federal policymakers respond that interdiction makes more sense for meth because production is dependent upon a series of chemicals, so supplies can be blocked. Further, experts say, the drug war has cooled enthusiasm for mandatory minimum sentences and has waned in the aftermath of 9/11.

One similarity between crack and meth is how officials describe the drugs' impact on users and communities. Like crack, meth has been called a "plague" that has emerged as the biggest problem facing police and public-health authorities in certain communities.

Some lawmakers, like Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), say they are less sympathetic for meth users than those addicted to other drugs. "When you come from areas where you see opportunities exist and you get whacked out on drugs, the sympathy is less than for in urban areas where they have no jobs or may not have fathers," he said.

But Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) recently cheered the story of a meth user's recovery, even though the man served a stint in prison for making the drug. He said he feels sympathy for meth users because "there are more kids involved, it's harder to solve, addictiveness is higher than crack or heroin."

Jim Tilley, who runs the Drug Enforcement Administration field office in Montana, rejects the "everyman" characterization of meth users. "The same people who use meth also sell meth, or cook it and sell it, and it ends up in our schools, your neighborhood," he said.  "Most people realize that, whether it's meth or crack, people have problems, but it doesn't get into our schools by itself."