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Madigan announces anti-meth program

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:52 PM CDT

CARTERVILLE - Meth makers in Southern Illinois soon will have one less tactic in getting the materials they need to make the drug.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan visited John A. Logan College Thursday to announce a new program to fight meth in Southern Illinois.

The pilot program, which will begin Oct. 1, keeps track of purchases of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient of meth, and allows pharmacies and local law enforcement to keep an eye out for frequent buyers. It will electronically link 75 drugstores and pharmacies in Franklin, Williamson, Jackson, Johnson, Saline and Union counties.

Williamson County Sheriff Tom Cundiff will run the pilot program for six counties with a $98,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's community oriented policing branch.

The program is meant to track people called "Smurfs," who buy small amounts of ingredients at different pharmacies to avoid detection. Cundiff said the program will "help track users, not the general public."

Madigan said the program will help local law enforcement free up some resources and fight meth more efficiently.

Michelle Hamilton, director of corporate training at the Center of Business and Industry at John A. Logan College and chair of the Williamson County Coalition against Meth Abuse, said she appreciates the efforts and feels the program will make great strides in fighting meth.

"We are extremely pleased with the benefits this program will have for our community," Hamilton said.

Madigan initiated the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act, which took effect in January of 2006 and made pseudoephedrine and ephedrine Schedule 5 controlled substances. Madigan said since that time, there has been a substantial decrease in meth labs and activity. She said with the success, further funding should not be a problem.

"This shows that law enforcement is successful and once we have success, I believe we will find more money," Madigan said.

Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, who sponsored the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act in the Illinois House, said Madigan has been a general in the war against meth in Southern Illinois. He said he hopes that someday the pilot program can become a national program.

"There's more work to be done and this is part of the more work to be done," Bradley said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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