New reports indicate that seizures of clandestine methamphetamine labs are declining, and that fewer workers are showing up with traces of the drug in their systems, the Associated Press reported June 20.

Seizures of meth labs fell more than 30 percent last year nationwide, according to a report from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agency said state laws limiting access to over-the-counter drugs used to make meth contributed to the decline.

Lab seizures fell from 17,562 in 2004 to 12,185 in 2005, with sharp declines reported in states like Oklahoma, Montana, Washington, Missouri, and Oregon. But local law-enforcement officials say that imported meth is filling the market left by the decline in locally produced drugs.

"When we talk to our task forces, they're still able to go out at a moment's notice and purchase meth," said Capt. Craig Durbin, former head of the Oregon State Police's drug-enforcement section.  "Until we start seeing that change, I don't think we can say we've got anything close to being under control."

Meanwhile, the drug-testing firm Quest Diagnostics, Inc., said that positive drugs tests for methamphetamine among job applicants and employees dropped 31 percent during the first five months of 2006.

Federal anti-drug officials cited the research results as signs of progress, but Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), chair of the House drug-policy subcommittee, slammed the Bush administration's policy on meth. "Efforts to continue to downplay the threat, after working to cut funding for anti-meth efforts, are only making those who fight the meth epidemic daily more angry at this administration," said Souder.