| Press Release |
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| October 1, 2004 |
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Governor Kulongoski Announces Task Force Recommendations to Crush Meth
(Salem, Ore.) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that he has asked the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to enact an emergency administrative rule restricting the sales of Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine, key ingredients used in making Methamphetamine. The governor made the announcement in a press conference with Attorney General Hardy Myers and Salem Chief of Police Walter Myers, where he reported on the key recommendations of his Methamphetamine Task Force .
“When I became governor, I made a pledge to keep Oregon’s children healthy and safe, but the Methamphetamine epidemic is tearing our families apart and threatening our children’s lives,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Clearly, in order to keep children safe, we must stop the Meth epidemic in Oregon.”
In Oregon, Methamphetamine use is currently a factor in more than 85% of property and identity theft crimes, and is a major contributor to violent crimes. Methamphetamine use and production is also the single biggest factor that leads to the removal of Oregon children from their homes and placed in long-term foster care.
Unlike drugs like heroin and cocaine, Meth is a “make-it-yourself” drug that can be manufactured by amateurs using everyday ingredients found on the shelves in grocery stores. The primary ingredient in Meth is Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in Sudafed and other over-the-counter cold medicines.
At the press conference, the governor announced that he has requested the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to enact an emergency administrative rule requiring the sales of Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine to be conducted only behind a secured counter, such as the pharmacy counter at grocery stores. It will require purchasers to show identification and that vendors keep records of each sale. This temporary rule will be in effect for 180 days; the governor announced that he will work with legislators during the next legislative session to make the rule permanent.
“I want all retailers who currently sell Pseudoephedrine products to be able to continue to sell these products – but in a secured fashion that prevents would-be Meth cooks from endangering Oregon’s children,” said the governor.
In February, the governor appointed a Public Safety Review Steering Committee, led by Attorney General Myers, to conduct a complete review of the public safety system. Part of this effort included the appointment of Salem Police Chief Walt Myers to lead a task force of experts to study the Methamphetamine problem in Oregon. The governor directed this task force specifically to deliver a comprehensive and concrete set of recommendations for how to combat Methamphetamine in three areas: production, distribution, and use.
“This is a problem that cannot be solved by law enforcement alone. If we are to crush Meth in Oregon, we need to lock up those who produce it - and treat those who use it,” continued Governor Kulongoski. “We need to prevent dealers from attracting new users, and we need to enlist the help of communities all across Oregon to make it clear that we simply do not tolerate Meth in Oregon.”
The task force organized into subcommittees to target efforts in five key areas: Community Involvement; Law Enforcement/Precursors; Treatment; Children Well-Being; and Rehabilitation. Some of the recommendations will require legislative action, while others can be implemented through administrative action. The governor announced his plan to develop a legislative package to introduce next session, which will include:
- Forming a Statewide Meth Chemical, Lab Investigation and Prosecution Team;
- Designating a new criminal offense with an increased penalty for Meth producers where there is evidence that a child has been living where the Meth is being produced;
- Prioritizing drug treatment for those Meth offenders who need it most - pregnant offenders, children, parents and others whose addiction severely impacts the lives of others or society; and
- Creating a new Oregon Trail Card with an imprinted photo and name of the user on the card to prevent the cards from being used to subsidize Meth habits and Meth production.
Other task force recommendations do not require legislation. In addition to his direction to the Board of Pharmacy, the governor announced additional administrative initiatives underway. The governor is creating Drug Endangered Children Teams throughout the state to make sure children who are in Meth houses are given proper treatment and that they receive the care and support that they need to grow up healthy and happy. In addition, in collaboration with the University of Oregon School of Journalism, the governor’s office is developing a prevention strategy for use in schools to keep children from using Meth and a toolkit with the Oregon Partnership to make available to local organizations to use in their efforts to fight Meth in their own communities.
The final recommendations of the governor’s Meth Task Force will be included in the comprehensive public safety review report, scheduled to be released in late October.
“This is one of the greatest public safety challenges our state has ever faced, and it is going to take all of us to crush Meth and keep Oregon children, families and communities safe,” said the governor.
Media Contact:
Marian Hammond, 503-378-6169
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6496
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