Let's keep working to combat meth production and abuse
- TBI data show meth labs were on pace to be down over 40 percent in 2014 compared with 2013.
- TN has made strides in our fight against meth since Gov. Haslam signed the “I Hate Meth Act."
- This required pharmacies to join the National Precursor Log Exchange system in January 2012.
In the past few years, methamphetamine has been at the forefront of discussion both in the legislature and in communities across the state. Far too many Tennesseans have had a family member, friend, colleague or neighbor who has been affected in one way or another. From knowing someone dealing with addiction to facing the nightmare scenario that a child could find a meth lab discarded on the side of the road, everyone is aware of this dangerous issue. Thankfully, in response to these concerns, Tennessee has made tremendous progress in our fight against meth.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s most recent data, meth labs were on pace to be down over 40 percent in 2014 compared with 2013. These results can be attributed to the great work done by law enforcement, prosecutors, Gov. Bill Haslam, legislators and community leaders across this great state. The legislature has implemented laws that target meth users without overburdening law-abiding citizens, and local community leaders have conducted very effective outreach efforts to educate residents on the dangers of methamphetamine.
Tennessee made significant strides in our fight against meth during June of 2011 when Haslam signed the “I Hate Meth Act,” requiring pharmacies to join the National Precursor Log Exchange system starting in January 2012.
NPLEx allows retailers to track, in real time, attempted purchases of pseudoephedrine products across the state. PSE can be used by criminals to make meth, so NPLEx gave Tennessee a way for law enforcement to work with merchants across the state to make sure that cold and allergy medicine is not diverted to produce the drug.
NPLEx helps police officers target not only meth producers, but also those who knowingly buy PSE for meth cooks, in a process known as smurfing.
The purchasers — or "smurfs" — often will travel around the state with meth makers and buy PSE for them.
Prior to NPLEx, smurfers were able to avoid detection. But now, law enforcement can track these criminals and are alerted if the same person buys PSE at multiple locations within a short period of time.
Anti-smurfing campaigns, conducted by local leaders in concert with numerous retailers, have brought attention to this issue by displaying signs in pharmacies highlighting the crime of smurfing, and law enforcement officers have successfully prosecuted individuals engaged in this activity.
While progress is being made, there is certainly more work to be done. In 2014, legislation passed that restricted all known drug felons from purchasing PSE products without a prescription, and outreach efforts are being made to make sure that officials in all 95 counties fully populate the Tennessee Drug Offender Registry.
The utilization of the registry has been a tremendous tool for fighting meth production in states across the country.
Since implementing similar legislation, both Alabama and Oklahoma have seen an approximately 79 percent decrease in meth lab seizures. This is a success that Tennessee can and must achieve.
Meth is not gone from Tennessee, but because of the work of so many dedicated law enforcement officers and concerned citizens, real, tangible progress on meth production is being made.
The Drug Enforcement Agency now says that 90 percent of meth in the United States was initially produced south of our border. I ask that you join with us in battling this latest scourge of imported poison into our state. With your help, this is an effort that we can and will be successful in.
William Lamberth, R-Cottontown, represents District 44 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He is chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee and is a former assistant district attorney general in Sumner County.
