(Oklahoma City, Okla.) Oklahoma’s District Attorneys called on Oklahoma Legislators Monday to control the sale of pseudoephedrine in order to stop the epidemic of mobile methamphetamine labs in the state.
“This issue may more directly impact public safety in Oklahoma than any other issue our Legislature will consider this session,” said District Attorney Greg Mashburn, Norman.
Pseudoephedrine is a critical ingredient in the manufacture of “one-pot” meth labs. These labs are actually vessels made from a two-liter soda bottle with a handful of pseudoephedrine pills and other household ingredients inside to manufacture methamphetamine. Prosecutors point to the dangers these highly flammable labs pose to innocent people, children and first responders – and the astronomical costs associated with the destruction.
“These labs are killing innocent people, including our children. Meth labs are leaving property in flames, endangering law enforcement officers, contaminating our land and costing citizens millions of dollars,” said District Attorney Eddie Wyant, Miami.
“Manufacturers of pseudoephedrine are pouring thousands of dollars into a statewide campaign to defeat legislation to control the cold medicine, citing the costs to innocent consumers,” said District Attorney Tim Harris, Tulsa. “Their campaign decries that controlling the drug causes increased costs and inconvenience to law abiding citizens for the criminal activity of others. The truth is, law abiding citizens of Oklahoma already pay an astronomical bill for the ever increasing illegal manufacture of methamphetamine in our state,” he said.
Prosecutors say that though they may not realize it, law abiding Oklahomans are paying higher medical bills to offset the enormous costs of medical care for the uninsured who are burned in fires caused by meth labs. Those same taxpayers also bear the costs of an overburdened child welfare system, caring for innocent children who must be removed from homes where they are exposed to the dangers of meth labs and neglected by addicted parents.
Citizens also pay for increased law enforcement costs, including investigation and prosecution of thousands of criminal defendants involved in methamphetamine production and use. The meth epidemic has a huge impact on criminal caseloads in the state’s criminal justice system, and also results in increased costs to our prison system.
Landlords and hotel property owners bear the staggering costs of cleaning toxic waste after a meth lab is discovered. Law abiding citizens must pay thousands in clean-up costs before they can once again use their property for income.
There are uncalculated costs of environmental damage and exposure to innocent law abiding citizens and emergency personnel who come in contact with the toxic waste of methamphetamine production. Law abiding citizens also bear the incalculable costs resulting from so many addicted to methamphetamine due to its easy availability. And there are business and quality of life costs associated with the State of Oklahoma being known as one of the top meth producing states in the United States of America.
Prosecutors believe these costs can be reduced, and lives saved, with legislation to control pseudoephedrine.
Critics say there are increased costs to our health care system. “Children die every year in meth labs in Oklahoma. What dollar value is assigned to the life of a child?” inquired District Attorney Chris Ross, Ada. “What dollar value is assigned to stopping the pollution of the land caused by dumping of toxic byproducts of meth manufacturing on the side of the road? What dollar value is assigned to not having families occupying hotel rooms where meth was cooked days before, leaving behind toxic byproducts in the carpet, on the beds, and in the sheetrock? What dollar value is assigned to the foster care costs, or the emergency room costs, or burn unit costs? What dollar value is assigned to our prison beds and criminal justice system?”
“Most citizens who truly need these drugs for allergies will be able to easily obtain a prescription with adequate refills at a regularly scheduled check-up to address their health needs. For some, the costs may even decrease if insurance covers these drugs,” said Harris.
“Legislators can take a strong step forward for public safety and stop this epidemic of mobile meth labs. We commend those Legislators who have had the courage to step out front on this issue. We urge the remainder of you to follow their lead,” said District Attorney Emily Redman, Durant.
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