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Methamphetamine -- A National Crisis The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is often the only national police-based group representing the interests and concerns of police officers on the street -- those who patrol our streets to keep us safe. We are also closely aligned with and very sensitive to the issues of concern to those civilians who are -- or are afraid of becoming -- victims of crime. Drawing on this background, LEAA has developed close working relationships with various state Attorneys General. Many of these AG’s have become very concerned about the overwhelming ‘Meth’ problems facing state and local and law enforcement. Many AG’s feel that Meth is one of the worse threats facing their communities. In short, they are alarmed; they feel this may be one of the biggest threats/challenges they face. Meth, because it is so highly addictive, is a very real, imminent threat to those who try it. Because of its super addictive nature, many who try it just once become hooked. Some experts believe that just one use can change how the brain operates -- can change the chemicals the brain produces. Meth literally destroys those who use it. Countless street crimes are caused by addicts seeking to make a quick score. America needs a more comprehensive and aggressive approach to address this growing threat. Those who are hooked on the drug are a threat. They are a threat to their next victims and they are a threat to officers on the street (many of those involved in officer attacks/assaults are on drugs when they fight). Meth labs are a threat to those in and around the production of the drug in clandestine labs scattered through communities across America (increasingly including children, neighbors and first responders). The criminal drug trade in general -- and Methamphetamine in particular -- are a very profitable criminal activity and it is attracting the interest, backing and active support of organized crime and international drug cartels. In the face of these threats certain well-meaning politicians are proposing a series of bills to help address the problem. While all serious efforts to address this threat are appreciated, LEAA feels that efforts to eradicate this threat should, at a minimum, include:
Not surprisingly, certain other groups, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), prefer to avoid LEAA’s get serious and get tough approach. They would rather support the idea of making law-abiding buyers of certain items (in this case cold medicine) the focus. They want to hold Pharmacies and Pharamacists responsible as key components in stopping criminal drug abuse/sales. LEAA believes that as a matter of public policy, enforcement efforts that target the law-abiding purchaser of a product are doomed to failure. Those who follow our laws are not the problem, never have been, never will be. Similarly, targeting those who make or sell legitimate products should also not be the focus of criminal enforcement efforts. Laws -- and law enforcement -- should be focused on identifying the problem, investigating the crime, assembling evidence, arresting the criminals, convicting them for the most serious crime possible and then sending a message through very tough and consistent sentencing. Stated the other way, LEAA believes that blaming a legal product, blaming those who produce or sell legal products, is a failed effort that only distracts from the real ‘crime issues’ and wastes preciously limited law enforcement resources when they would be better focused elsewhere. Groups like the IACP have made a veritable ‘cottage industry’ of holding everyone but the criminal responsible for crime. LEAA disagrees! It’s the Criminal - stupid! Attempting to hold a law-abiding industry or law-abiding consumer responsible for the acts of criminals are a threat to law enforcement, the rule of law and our basic freedoms. It is also a threat to the economy. This practice must stop! We should not hold manufacturers or distributors responsible for the acts of criminals. Legislators -- and the public -- should reject the outlandish concept of holding the law-abiding manufacturer or consumer of a legal product responsible for the acts of criminals who obtain that product through illegal channels and then use it for purposes never intended or condoned by the manufacturer. LEAA applauds those legislators that are willing to stand up and work with the brave men and women of law enforcement to target crime and pursue truly effective use of our limited resources where it will do the most good!
Why Attacking Cold Medicine Sales Won’t Stop Meth Producers Experts in Drug policy have noted the dramatic change in the Meth drug trade. Once produced largely in home-made labs and controlled by biker gangs, Meth production is now increasingly controlled by international drug cartels, with the majority of Meth precursor chemicals being imported in large volume. This shift in production methods has led to a massive increase in the supply of Meth and demands that enforcement efforts also change to face the new realities of Meth. Outdated policies of targeting over the counter sales of cold medicines simply won’t be effective at combating the massive new Meth trade in America.
From Reason Magazine... “There is no doubt that control of precursors will lead to new or old variant syntheses,” says City University of New York pharmacologist John P. Morgan. “If the curtailment of [pseudoephedrine] works, such success will be temporary. Another method of manufacture or other supply will be found.” “According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, some 80 percent of illicit meth comes from large-scale Mexican traffickers, who tend to buy pseudoephedrine in bulk rather than a few packs at a time in pharmacies and grocery stores.” 1
From the DEA... “Recent reporting indicates that Canadian companies are a major source of supply for pseudoephedrine destined for U.S. laboratories because of minimal chemical controls in Canada. On March 7, 2002, search warrants were served on two residences, one in Paramount and the other in Lynwood, California. Four hundred containers of 25,000 count pseudoephedrine jars, or "pickle jars," (approximately 10,000,000 tablets) and $1,502,000 USC were seized. The pseudoephedrine is believed to have originated in Canada.” 2
From the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy... “Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse have changed in the United States during the past 10 years. Mexican drug trafficking organizations have become the dominant manufacturing and distribution group in cities in the Midwest and the West. Methamphetamine production and abuse were previously controlled by independent laboratory operators, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, which continue to operate but to a smaller extent. The Mexican criminal organizations are able to manufacture in excess of 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a 24-hour period, producing high-purity, low-cost methamphetamine.” 3
FOOTNOTES 1 http://www.reason.com/0501/ci.js.speed.shtml 2 http://www.reason.com/0501/ci.js.speed.shtml 3 http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/drug_trafficking.html
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