According to DEA figures there were 7,438 meth labs busted in 1999 nationwide, but 17,033 last year. These figures are slack, because I have first hand knowledge that Polk county in Florida is the leader in meth labs, but the lord high sheriff of that county does not allow reporting of meth labs into the the national data bank.

Federal stats reflect only 277 meth-lab busts last year and I am aware of many more than that, all un-reported. This is a genuine problem. The drug is dangerous and for every pound of meth produced, six pounds of extremely toxic waste are produced. Plus, one meth lab in eight blows up. Bad stuff. Easy to make. All ingredients available at your local supermarket for under $ 50.

This administration has proposed eliminating a $ 805 million grant in the Dept. of Justice, cutting the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program in the Dept. of Education by 53%, and slashing by more than half the multi-county and multi-agency grants under the High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Areas program, or HIDTA, from $ 228 million to $ 100. million.

The Bush minions stand firm in being willing to sacrifice funding for local law enforcement to divert resources to funding the war on terrorism. Necons cling to an outdated view of the drug problem and gloss over the meth crisis. Bush buddies come down hard on marijuana when the problems are methamphetamine and pain medications.

Write your congressman, county judges, Senators, county commissioners, whomever, and remind them that the meth menace is real, it is now, and it should be classed as a major threat to the well being of this nation.

Publius