Counties Want Federal Help Against MethJuly 7, 2005
Research Summary
A group representing counties across the U.S. says that the federal government should be spending more time and effort addressing methamphetamine abuse, WebMD reported July 7.
The National Association of Counties released a report this week finding that 58 percent of local law-enforcement agencies view meth as their top drug problem. But federal anti-drug efforts are focused primarily on preventing marijuana use, and the 2006 federal budget included a $804-million cut in funding for the Justice Assistance Program, used by local governments to fight meth and other drugs.Larry E. Naake, executive director of the group, said the Bush administration should pay at least as much attention to meth as it does to marijuana. "We think that there now is an epidemic that needs to get their attention," he said.
But a spokesperson for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy defended the administration's focus on marijuana, saying that there are 15 million marijuana users in the U.S. compared to about 1 million meth users. "You hear the word 'epidemic' thrown around quite a bit when you're talking about meth," said spokesperson Jennifer DeVallance. "This is a major and significant problem, but it is not one that is out of control and it is not one that can't be contained."
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