Ten Attorneys General and officials from 13 other states came together today to attack what they called the biggest illegal drug menace in America: the use and production of methamphetamine.
Heading their calls for action, they recommend making pills containing pseudoephedrine, the drug essential to producing meth, harder to obtain by placing them behind pharmacy counters and requiring buyers to show Ids and sign a log to get them.
The Attorneys General, as the chief law enforcement officers of their states, share a deep concern for the public health and safety crisis caused by meth and a commitment to work together to combat its spread. The meth summit marked the first time the Conference of Western Attorneys General has convened a special meeting to take on a drug issue.
The Attorneys General said meth is closely connected to a wide range of other crimes, including domestic abuse, child endangerment and identity theft. This highly addictive stimulant is destroying lives every day. Clandestine meth labs make neighborhoods unsafe, harm children and impose high costs on taxpayers, businesses, healthcare systems and the environment. The costs to society associated with a single neighborhood meth lab have been estimated at more than $300,000.
The Attorneys General, along with national experts on the meth epidemic, discussed their experiences and best practices to fight this scourge. Their deliberations helped forge consensus on substantial steps to address the devastating impact of meth.
The Attorneys General recommend states take the following actions: