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| New weapons in the
War on Meth
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| Rep. Walden outlines efforts to combat the deadly drug
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 | | CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | Greg Walden |
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Let the word go out to meth cooks and traffickers, the federal government is stepping up its efforts to shut you down. Following the lead of states like Oregon, no longer will it be easy in any state to get the ingredients you need to cook your poison. And we're going to hold you responsible for the toxic dump you create and the damage you cause.
Any day now, the president will sign legislation that will help control the flow of the main ingredient in methamphetamine: Pseudoephedrine. The measure requires cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine to be sold behind the counter and buyers to sign for them. No longer will domestic cooks simply get their supply of cold tablets containing this ingredient from states with lax laws.
In the first few months after Oregon implemented precursor restrictions of this type, we saw a 47 percent reduction in toxic labs in houses, backyards, cars, motel rooms and neighborhoods. I'm hopeful that now we'll start seeing similar results all around the country. Even with this reduction, Oregon still has the highest national rate for meth treatment.
The legislation also authorizes the State Department to cut off foreign aid to countries that refuse to cooperate with our efforts to control the bulk shipments of pseudoephedrine. This is similar authority our government uses to help control cocaine and heroin trafficking. Law enforcement officials tell me that over 65 percent of meth on the streets in Oregon comes from across the border. (Yet another reason to enhance border security.)
Our legislation does even more, including provisions that:
ú enhance criminal penalties for those producing and trafficking meth, particularly in a child's presence or a home where a child lives;
ú hold manufacturers responsible for the costs required to clean up labs;
ú authorize funds for drug court programs and further study of the federal drug court program's effectiveness;
ú authorize grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to assist with investigation of meth traffickers and help cover the costs of cleaning up labs; and
ú authorize grants to states for treatment of meth-affected parents and endangered children who live at a residence where meth has been manufactured or distributed.
As importantly, the federal legislation does not prevent states such as Oregon from going further in their efforts to stop this terrible and destructive drug problem.
It was just a year ago that I convened seven town hall meetings focused on methamphetamine throughout central, southern and eastern Oregon. At each of these summits, and in follow-up meetings since, I heard from children whose lives had been shattered by drug-addicted parents; from addicts themselves who need treatment but can't get into programs; and from law enforcement officials, treatment providers and community activists who were making progress, but needed help.
The stories I heard were chilling. The destructive power of this toxic poison is unimaginable. I knew it was critical to tell our story to those in Congress whose districts were not yet affected and convince them to help us pass federal legislation to combat meth. It helped when the Chairman of the House Drug Policy Subcommittee, Mark Souder, held a field hearing at my request in Pendleton and heard first hand from people in our district about our problems and our needs.
There is more work to be done, and as a member of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, the Speaker's Task Force for a Drug-Free America, and, most importantly, as the father of a sophomore in high school, I am committed to doing whatever it takes to help. Through collaboration and cooperation we can continue moving forward to make a real difference in finding and funding additional solutions to protect our communities, families, and children.
Changing federal law, as we have done, is a positive start.
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