Saturday, May 7, 2011

Meth plan would exacerbate prescription drug abuse crisis

Kentucky faces a prescription-drug abuse crisis that Gov. Beshear rightly described in his recent congressional testimony as “the fastest growing, most prolific substance abuse issue facing our country.”

That’s precisely why Kentucky lawmakers rightly resisted proposed legislation during the 2011 session of the Kentucky General Assembly to require prescriptions for purchasing cold and allergy products containing pseudoephedrine – an ingredient used to make methamphetamine, a highly addictive and terribly destructive drug.

Why do some law-enforcement officers vow to keep fighting for this misguided approach when, if passed, it would exacerbate one of our most serious drug-abuse problems? The proposed policy would also remove the current real-time tracking system known as MethCheck, which blocks 10,000 grams of potentially illegal sales of meth ingredients each month.

Pharmaceutical companies implemented and funded the MethCheck system, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. While we may not have “won” the meth war, we are containing it as law enforcement officials have the tools to find and shut down more meth labs than ever.

What other answers might the private sector come up with that could offer more success than the government solutions that have failed to curb the prescription-drug abuse crisis?

5 comments:

Hempy said...

Remember, it was Kentucky's national disgrace, Rand Paul who said there's wasn't a drug problem in Eastern Kentucky, and so didn't need federal money.

However, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison had a different view. They wrote:

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."

But what does Rand Paul know about the views of our founders or the Constitution they wrote? Absolute nothing.

Sally said...

There is no prescription drug abuse crisis. There is only a government meddling crisis. Let adults do with their bodies what they choose... if they want to kill themselves with drugs, let 'em. Drugs will always be illegal for children and hurting someone while under the influence will always be illegal as well.

What a government tries to squash only secures a black market in the thing. We cannot control what human beings do with their bodies. It has never worked, it never will. It will only cost us more and more and more money, bind us every more tightly to the federal loan program, fill our jails with victimless criminals, create state-run "rehabs" that will be rife with corruption...

Surrender to win here, folks. Let it go. Not only is this fight doomed from the get go, KY has bigger problems.

Hempy said...

Sally:

I agree prohibition is a failure. It's also anti-capitalistic according to Adam Smith.

Over 50,000 products can be made from hemp including cancer cures. Recreational hemp could be regulated and taxed, which would be a means of protecting children.

Including hemp in the Controlled Substances Act appears to be unconstitutional. Article I, Section 8 Clause 8 gives Congress the power to promote the progress of science and useful arts.

Our founders intended that agriculture products be including in this provision. Hence, they wrote it broadly so nothing would be left out.

Hemp products can compete with fossil fuels, pharmaceuticals, wood and paper products to name a few.

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