Several months ago I met with Gary and Mary Gerard over lunch to discuss the issue of meth use in our community. Like many others it is easy to think of meth as a problem that doesn't really effect me. What I was ignoring was the fact the meth was killing our community.Listening to Jeff Smith at Serenity House talk about the devastating effect it has on families; law enforcement officers talk about the sadness they feel when they see how the lives of innocent children are ruined by parents who are meth users, one could not help getting involved to find a solution.
I would like to applaud Gary Gerard, Times-Union, Mary Gerard and Pat Coy, United Way, the sheriff's department and Jeff Smith, Serenity House, and Bowen Center for the attention they have brought to the serious meth problem we have in Kosciusko and surrounding counties. Though efforts have been made through the use of the newly established Indiana Methamphetamine Investigation System, which provides input from retailers that sell pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in meth, it does not solve the real problem. Unfortunately, the meth addict will find ways around this easily by having others purchase pseudoephedrine for them.
Missouri passed a law requiring customers to show ID when purchasing over-the-counter cold medications containing PSE drugs, and it resulted in black market sales of PSE.
I was pleased to hear that the Indiana General Assembly assigned a study committee to look into the meth problem. However, the study will only tell us what we already know, meth is killing our communities. We need to do what other country and states have done, make pseudoephedrine a prescription drug.
Washington, Mo., pharmacies reported a 94 percent drop in PSE sales just three months following the cities decision to require a prescription for PSE drugs. The state of Oregon found the same positive results. As candidate for state representative I have given my promise to do all I can do to make that happen.
Thank you to Gary, Mary, Pat and Jeff for leading the charge. Your passion and hard work has not fallen of deaf ears. Together we can make a real difference in the type of community we want for our children.
