2008 Woodie Awards
New bill should focus on treating meth addicts, not slowing drugs spread
Mimi Abebe
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
On Feb. 12, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that will provide drug enforcement officials with new ways to crack down on methamphetamine use.
The Combat Meth Enhancement Act of 2007 focuses primarily on controlling the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
The legislation requires all people involved in the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration or self-certify they have been trained to sell the products. The new legislation also requires that a list of all retailers who have filed self-certifications be published on the DEA Web site.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are ingredients in cold medicines that are used to produce methamphetamine, said Jim Davis, the education officer for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's police department.
Davis said he did not know of an incident involving methamphetamine on campus in the last couple of years, nor did he hear about any meth production on campus.
Davis said most of the meth police find around UNL's campus is found with someone who is driving by campus.
"At University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it's not a well-used drug on campus," Davis said. "The reason is that you just can't be on meth and go to school for very long."
Mike Ryan, the admissions coordinator and counselor at Valley Hope Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in O'Neill, said the legislation would probably make it harder to make methamphetamine, but it would only slow down the drugs' spread.
"In my opinion they'd be better off treating the addicts than getting rid of the demand," Ryan said. "In-patient facilities are drastically lacking in Nebraska and have been for the last 10 years."
O'Neill is a town of only 4,000 people, Ryan said. However, Valley Hope is an in-patient facility provides treatment for up to 65 addicts at a time. Many of the addicts at Valley Hope are addicted to meth.
"For about the last 10 years, it's been a rare occasion to see the plain old alcoholic coming in for treatment," Ryan said. "The large majority come in for alcohol and drug additions."
The problem has grown rampant in the last five to 10 years, Ryan said.
"Meth is a very addictive drug," Davis said. "When someone goes into a treatment center and can't afford it, taxpayers have to pay the bill."
mimiabebe@dailynebraskan.com
The Combat Meth Enhancement Act of 2007 focuses primarily on controlling the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
The legislation requires all people involved in the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration or self-certify they have been trained to sell the products. The new legislation also requires that a list of all retailers who have filed self-certifications be published on the DEA Web site.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are ingredients in cold medicines that are used to produce methamphetamine, said Jim Davis, the education officer for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's police department.
Davis said he did not know of an incident involving methamphetamine on campus in the last couple of years, nor did he hear about any meth production on campus.
Davis said most of the meth police find around UNL's campus is found with someone who is driving by campus.
"At University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it's not a well-used drug on campus," Davis said. "The reason is that you just can't be on meth and go to school for very long."
Mike Ryan, the admissions coordinator and counselor at Valley Hope Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in O'Neill, said the legislation would probably make it harder to make methamphetamine, but it would only slow down the drugs' spread.
"In my opinion they'd be better off treating the addicts than getting rid of the demand," Ryan said. "In-patient facilities are drastically lacking in Nebraska and have been for the last 10 years."
O'Neill is a town of only 4,000 people, Ryan said. However, Valley Hope is an in-patient facility provides treatment for up to 65 addicts at a time. Many of the addicts at Valley Hope are addicted to meth.
"For about the last 10 years, it's been a rare occasion to see the plain old alcoholic coming in for treatment," Ryan said. "The large majority come in for alcohol and drug additions."
The problem has grown rampant in the last five to 10 years, Ryan said.
"Meth is a very addictive drug," Davis said. "When someone goes into a treatment center and can't afford it, taxpayers have to pay the bill."
mimiabebe@dailynebraskan.com
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