Funding for anti-meth projects in question

Already frustrated with their prediction that Missouri will lead the nation for the 10th straight year in methamphetamine lab seizures, state and local law enforcement officials fear federal funding to fight the drug epidemic will not be available in 2012.

The Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Team (MoSMART) -- in existence since July 2000 -- is funded by a congressional earmark that was secured by former Sen. Kit Bond. Work by MoSMART officers began in January 2001 and since then more than $21 million has been distributed to drug task forces throughout Missouri to fund various anti-methamphetamine projects, according to Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan.

Since 2001, 16,742 lab incidents were investigated and more than 39,000 people were arrested for various charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Jordan calls the earmark one of the best tools that has helped in fighting the methamphetamine problem, which in 2005 cost Missouri taxpayers more than $23 billion, according to a RAND Corporation study.

"They look at crime and criminal justice, child endangerment, drug treatment, health care, environmental and cleanup costs," said Jason Grellner, vice president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association, said of the study.

Additionally, Grellner said the cost to taxpayers in 2010 is likely close to $23 billion, as the number of labs reported will probably top 2,000. In 2005, more than 2,500 labs were reported by law enforcement agencies. The more labs there are, Grellner says, the larger the costs to Missouri taxpayers. The annual cost to state and local agencies for meth lab cleanups is approximately $2.1 million.

"When you look at how much is just being spent on the cleanup, it's crazy," said Kevin Glaser, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force supervisor. "And that doesn't have anything to do with cleaning up the apartment or the home. The property owner is strapped with that."

Annually, the SEMO Drug Task Force has an operating budget of approximately $600,000 and according to Glaser 75 percent of their officers' activity is dedicated to seizing labs and other anti-methamphetamine intiatives.

In a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Grellner and Glaser, with other state law enforcement, spoke with lawmakers about the importance of keeping the earmark for anti-methamphetamine operations.

"What we've proven since the late 1980s is these task forces are the best way to spend tax payer money in a unified effort to fight illegal narcotics," Grellner said. "We talked to all staff members of all Missouri representatives and senators and they all understood and were supportive of law enforcement. There will be some tough decisions to be made as they go forward with the 2012 budget."

As law enforcement utilized the funding they do have to curb methamphetamine use, 2010 was also about finding new solutions to the increasing problem.

A number of Southeast Missouri cities, and several others across the state, passed ordinances mandating residents to acquire a doctor's prescription to purchase cold medications containing pseudoephedrine. The drug, often taken to curb a sinus infection, is a key component in making methamphetamine. Several law enforcement agencies supported the measure, saying it is a critical step in stopping the spread of methamphetamine.

As of Jan. 27, a total of 26 jurisdictions in the state have passed ordinances requiring a prescription for pseudoephedrine, resulting in 125 pharmacies in those areas selling pseudoephedrine only with a doctor's note, according to Grellner. An additional 228 individual pharmacies have voluntarily chosen to require their customers to present a prescription.

And in a series of visits throughout the state in December, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that he'd like Missouri to become the third in the nation to require a doctor's prescription to purchase the medication.

The pharmaceutical industry would rather Nixon, and the state's law enforcement officials, give a tracking system that indexes pseudoephedrine purchases electronically a chance before making the state's residents obtain a prescription for the drug.

"It has a heavy impact on law abiding citizens trying to get their hands on legal products," said Ron Fitzwater, CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association. "The tracking system is the best option ... Our board is still very committed to it."

Additionally, Fitzwater said the tracking system is a good tool for law enforcement, who with access to the real-time database can more easily see sales across the state and frequent buyers.

"They had seen a large number of sales being stopped," Fitzwater said, refering to the association's own correspondence with law enforcement. "They were happy with the response in the system."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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