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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
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New Meth Law Shows Results
A new law to address the state's growing meth problem is proving very successful, reported State Representative Joe Atkins, one of the key drafters of the legislation. In Dakota County, there has been a 75% reduction in meth crimes. The same trend has been reported across Minnesota.
The new law, in effect since August 1st, places decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine behind the counter in Minnesota pharmacies, limiting how much customers can purchase in a month and requiring them to sign a log.
"This law has only been in effect for three months, and already we're seeing striking results," Rep. Atkins said.
The Dakota County Drug Task Force reports a decline from 28 meth lab seizures in 2004, to 8 seizures in 2005. The new law is having a similar effect throughout the state.
The decline in meth labs is good news for the state. The chemicals used to produce meth are highly volatile, and can ignite or explode if improperly mixed. Even without explosion or fire, inhalation of the vapors created in meth production produces a serious health risk to children and neighbors living near the lab. Cleaning up the toxic chemicals used in meth labs costs taxpayers an average of $5,000 per lab.
"These are not the sort of neighbors you want next door, or the environment kids should be growing up in," Rep. Atkins commented. "There is no question this new law has made our communities safer."
The new law restricts the sale of many medications containing pseudoephedrine in pill form. Under an amendment sponsored by Rep. Atkins the law will also apply to gel caps and liquids, if it is found that meth makers increasingly turn to those forms of pseudoephedrine when tablets become unavailable on store shelves. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has found pseudoephedrine to be "readily extractable" from gel caps and liquids, and meth busts in Minnesota and other states have uncovered the practice.
"My amendment keeps law enforcement a step ahead of the drug producers," Atkins said.
Atkins also said supporters of the new law are seeking to strike the right balance in applying the new law, so allergy sufferers with a legitimate need for pseudoephedrine can still obtain the medicines they need.
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