« Ind. Law - Indiana's voter ID law: more restrictive than that of other countries? | Main | Ind. Laws - More on: "Lawmaker to push texting-driving ban" »
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Ind. Law - More on: "State hopes database will curb meth"
This ILB entry from Oct. 11, 2009, headed "Cold-med law snares allergy sufferers: Pseudoephedrine buyers limited to 3 grams a week," recounted several stories of innocent purchasers ensnared by Indiana's law strictly limiting purchases of cold medicine.
Today the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has this editorial, "Better use of meth law," that relates:
Right or wrong, Indiana lawmakers decided in 2005 to limit and track the sales of decongestants, which have a key ingredient used in making methamphetamine. State criminal justice officials are right to now make a significant step toward using the law to help curb meth manufacturing while preventing innocent cold and allergy sufferers from being punished.While a new initiative to move purchase records of the decongestants from paper to computer is a welcome effort to take full advantage of the law, no one should think that step alone will end meth use and making. * * *
Consumers are limited to buying no more than 3 grams of pseudoephedrine in a week, or about 25 120-milligram pills, more than enough for personal use. But, as Rebecca Green reported in October, people with allergies who legitimately might buy a little extra to stock up can mistakenly run afoul of the law and even be charged with a misdemeanor.
Now, armed with a $200,000 federal grant, Indiana State Police have launched the Indiana Meth Intelligence System. It will maintain a database that would include, among other records, the decongestant purchases. Rather than be a burden for pharmacies, moving from paper to digital records will make sales more efficient. And the system can easily red-flag excessive sales.
At the same time, as Angela Mapes Turner reported Sunday, police believe they can fine-tune the database to screen out people who legitimately buy the over-the-counter medicine for colds or allergies.
Records of arrests and meth-lab busts indicate that the 2005 law was initially quite effective, curbing meth making. But the makers and sellers began to find ways around the law, including making smaller purchases at more pharmacies. The new computer system should help curb that practice.
At the same time, Hoosiers shouldn’t be surprised if the meth heads find new ways to avoid the database. Still, the computer network should help authorities use the law to its potential, and it can be an effective tool – especially if combined with stepped-up education efforts that graphically explain the vile contents of meth and the undeniable ways it hurts users.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 2, 2010 05:02 PM
Posted to Indiana Law