TERRE HAUTE — Some Indiana police officers say the fight against methamphetamine would be helped by a change in state law to require prescriptions for cold medicines often used in the manufacture of the drug.
Indiana State Police started an online tracking system last year under which pharmacies voluntarily submit information on the sale of medicines with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine rather than just the paper logs required by state law.
But meth cookers have found ways to get around the purchase limits and electronic tracking, Terre Haute police Sgt. Chris Gallagher said.
"There is always a lab going on in Vigo County. It never stops," Gallagher said.
State Sen. Tim Skinner and state Rep. Clyde Kersey — both Terre Haute Democrats — told a Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce session last week that they support bills pending in the Legislature to make the medicines by prescription only, according to The Tribune-Star.
Skinner said he hopes legislators act quickly on the matter.
Gallagher said Oregon reported 473 clandestine meth labs in 2003 and saw that drop to 12 last year after requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine starting in 2006. He said states that have relied on electronic tracking of cold medicine sales haven't experienced similar success.
"We don't have the manpower to investigate every meth cooker or user, and we can't afford to incarcerate or treat them all," Gallagher said.
Some legislators are hesitant to require prescriptions for cold medications, arguing that would result in an influx of the drug from Mexico. Other bills in the General Assembly would make the online tracking system mandatory.
Indiana State Police reported 1,058 meth labs were found statewide in 2008 and 1,343 in 2009.
Former Vigo County Sheriff Jon Marvel said the costs associated with fighting meth production and abuse go far beyond the criminal justice system and are straining the budgets of local governments around the state.
"We're keeping people in jail as opposed to paving streets, or picking up leaves or doing parks and recreation programs," he said. "There are meth addicted babies who become children in need of services from the state, and that becomes a tax-funded issue. The chance of those children excelling in school is slim to none. That is a societal issue."
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