Everyone needs to take note of this date:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011, 3:30 PM
This is going to be a very special day for anyone who has any involvement in the meth problems in our communities.
On this date, the Public Health Committee will meet at the Statehouse in Indianapolis to review two (2) House Bills they have before them regarding methamphetamines:
1. HOUSE BILL 1030: To make Sudafed-type products available by prescription only (as they were prior to 1976) so that meth-cookers will not have access to the ONE INGREDIENT that is key to meth production: pseudoephedrine. Law-abiding citizens will still have access to the drug as needed for colds, allergies, via simple alternatives.
2. HOUSE BILL 1306: Tracking System: To spend millions of dollars to install a more-enhanced tracking system at our Indiana pharmacies (we already have one tracking system in place) so that all sales of pseudoephedrine can be tracked and law enforcement can identify and arrest meth cookers. Proponents of this idea argue that making Sudafed-type products available by prescription only will burden law-abiding citizens in getting their needed meds for colds and allergies and will result in higher costs for the State.
Some FACTS to consider:
1. Tracking methods have been placed in other states and all have failed miserably. They have actually increased the problem.
2. Whatever costs the State may incur in making Sudafed-type products available by prescription only could never compete with the $1.87 BILLION our state has spent on meth-related costs alone.
3. Currently it is estimated that 40 to 70 % of all Sudafed-type products sold are going into the hands of meth cookers. Most assume drug companies that produce these cold meds KNOW this. They currently gross billions of dollars for these drugs they currently sell over-the-counter.
4. Citizens will have to contact their doctor, or talk to them at their annual doctor visit, to acquire a prescription for Sudafed-type products but only for certain limited products.
5. 82% of the cold and allergy meds will still be available over the counter. Even some Sudafed products will still be available over the counter. Only the Sudafed HCI product (and other like products) will require the prescription.
6. Sudafed HCI is not a medicine that should be used for the longterm treatment of symptoms. And it is currently not allowed for children under the age of 12.
7. Children are becoming more and more the victims of meth, some born to meth, others exposed to it as small children, others abused and neglected because of it, some traded for sex so their adult caretaker or parent can acquire meth, and others killed.
8. A tracking system WILL help identify more meth cookers and result in more arrests. Our law enforcement officers will be burdened and busier catching meth cookers, cleaning up more meth labs and meth labs will increase greatly. However, we have no place to house them in the jails which are currently overcrowded in this State - Indiana is already planning to release thousands of prisoners due to this.
9. An interesting thing to think about: if 100 children were in a room and someone told you there was a bomb in that room, would you 1. Begin removing each child, one at a time, hoping to save them all? or 2. Would you remove the bomb and save them all?
10. Your voice is needed - please call the committee chair Rep. Tim Brown to voice your opinion on the House Bills above: 765-362-7024 (or) 317-232-9762 prior to February 9th, the day they will vote.
What can be done to protect and help the many elementary school children in our communities who are neglected because of meth use by family members? How can children have a voice about what is going on their homes without fear of what will happen to them?
ReplyDeleteWe can give these children a voice by sticking up for them and being an advocate for them - when we see signs of the neglect, it should be reported to school officials or Child Protective Services just as we would if the abuse was from any other form of neglect. Kids who are hungry, unclean, have unwashed clothing, act restless and unruly, and/or possibly have skin sores or clothing that smells like chemicals, should be reported and taken care of. The Kosciusko Drug Task Force has a HUGE concern about these children and can be reached at 574-267-5667 - ask for Don. Or call their tip line at 574-372-2494. There will be more meth education coming for the schools, parents, babysitters, etc. We all have to get involved.
ReplyDeleteFACT: Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is NOT required in order to make meth. There are at least NINE other substances, many of them easily available, that can be made into meth.
ReplyDeleteFACT: PSE is the ONLY safe and effective decongestant available.
FACT: Cold and allergy sufferers will be punished by this new law enforcement fad, while it won't affect meth production one bit.
FACT: This WILL raise the price of PSE.
FACT: This WILL raise the cost of health care.
FACT: The DOA and the DOJ say that gel caps and liquid can be used to make meth. See for yourself: http://tinyurl.com/43q4b5c
FACT: Gel caps and liquid are ALREADY being used to produce meth. See for yourself from this article dated 2005: http://tinyurl.com/3z7revt
FACT: We have been told before that the previous laws have virtually wiped out meth production. We all know that turned out to be a pack of lies from the SAME PEOPLE that are pushing this new bill. See for yourself: http://tinyurl.com/3uzb3u2 (PowerPoint file)
FACT: Any time a law is aimed at punishing law abiding citizens instead of criminals, it doesn't work.