This is Part 2 in a 3 part series being blogged by Terry Goddard; Arizona's Attorney General.
Terry, if you don't know, was long-time Phoenix mayor when Democrats couldn't get elected to dog catcher. He is an unabashed, fighting Democrat who took down the famous "Phoenix 40" by bringing a district system to the Phoenix city council which elected 3 Latinos and 1 African-American that year.
He became Arizona's HUD Director in the Clinton years and then got elected to Attorney General in 2002. Rumors are that he will succeed Governor Janet Napolitano in 2010.
http://www.terrygoddard.org
An Oklahoma law that went into effect in April 2004, since followed by at least 37 other states, restricted the sale of cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine, which is used to make methamphetamine.
The report released by DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center shows drug lab numbers in Oklahoma fell from 1,058 in 2003 to 667 in 2004 and to 217 in 2005...
From 2000 to 2005, there were 1,412 meth-production related seizures in the state of Arizona. Nearly 35% of these labs were found in residences where children were living. These children then required millions of dollars in state services, such as foster care and medical treatment. The toxic waste and other harmful chemicals found in meth labs required careful disposal, which, so far, have cost the state over 4.1 million dollars.
As Attorney General, Terry Goddard has been a leader in fighting meth production in Arizona. Since taking office, he has fought for legislation that would limit the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in meth. The legislation he proposed in 2005 was modeled after an Oklahoma law that reduced meth labs by 67.5%:
An Oklahoma law that went into effect in April 2004, since followed by at least 37 other states, restricted the sale of cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine, which is used to make methamphetamine.
The report released by DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center shows drug lab numbers in Oklahoma fell from 1,058 in 2003 to 667 in 2004 and to 217 in 2005...
Many of the labs being seized now are not operational, [Mark Woodward, spokesman for Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control] said.
"They tell us, `Yeah, I have the glassware and the chemicals, but I can't get the pills."'
In 2005 and 2006, the bill modeled after Oklahoma law passed in the House of Representatives, but failed in the Senate. So, Terry decided to take his case for pseudoephedrine sale restrictions on the road to cities and towns across Arizona. As of this month, over 35 municipal governments, including Phoenix and Tucson, have passed their own restrictions that are tougher than current state law.
In addition to fighting the production of meth here in Arizona, the Attorney General is also fighting to prevent the importation of meth from Mexico. Terry established a Border Trafficking Team, whose members specialize in prosecuting cases that deal with drug importation and human smuggling. This team is currently prosecuting over a dozen "coyotes." Terry's office has also been working with local law enforcement and banks to halt money transfers to and from smugglers. The AG's office has seized over $15 million from these transfers.
The sale and production of meth are threatening the safety and well-being of families all across Arizona. Meth is eating away at our communities, as well as straining our law enforcement and health care resources. By eliminating opportunities for cooks and dealers to create and distribute meth, we are able to successfully fight the meth crisis by cutting it off at its source. As Arizona Attorney General, Terry Goddard has been instrumental in these efforts.
Another tactic in the fight against meth is educating citizens about the dangers of this terrible drug. In the next post, we will discuss steps that Terry has taken to spread the truth about meth across Arizona, and to protect the innocent lives that are affected by it.
Sources:
http://www.azag.gov
State posts biggest decrease in meth labs in nation The Enid News & Eagle, 7/8/06