[FitnFirm]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration wants to cut methamphetamine use in the United States by 15 percent by 2009, relying on cooperation with Mexico and steps at home that include expanded random drug testing in schools.

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Administration officials said Thursday they have reduced the number of U.S. labs that make meth but have not been able to stem the flow of the cheap and highly addictive drug from Mexico, estimated to be the source of 80 percent of the U.S. supply.

Most of the details of the administration's synthetic drug control strategy have been previously announced, including new specialized enforcement teams on both sides of the border.

Fewer than 600,000 Americans use meth, just two-tenths of 1 percent of the nation's population, according to administration estimates. But more than the half the nation's counties count meth as their top problem, said John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

He said the administration supports increased drug testing in schools as a sort of early warning program.

"It is a way to cut down student failure, truancy, gang membership," Walters said. The decision to test students will remain with individual districts, he said.

Many states and the federal Combat Meth Act, signed into law in March, have made meth ingredients like pseudoephedrine harder to obtain. Federal drug agents and local police shut down 11,189 meth labs in the first 10 months of 2005, 26 percent fewer closures than over the same period a year earlier.

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LOL, Just 15% ??????? LMAO

[joecski]

It seemed odd to me that the Bush admin was making a big deal out of a small problem, meth use is actually pretty insignificant compared to marijuana, cocaine/crack, and heroin. Then I realized the article said : "Administration officials said Thursday they have reduced the number of U.S. labs that make meth but have not been able to stem the flow of the cheap and highly addictive drug from Mexico, estimated to be the source of 80 percent of the U.S. supply."

So, this is another justification for building fences around Mexico.

[Viperspit]

I'm sorry to say that I voted for this prick twice. This guy really needs to get his priorities straight.

1. Let's get the fuk outta Iraq now. ( I could go on forever on this subject).

2. Get the Border situatiuon straighted around. Use some of this money from above to create Border patrol jobs.

3. Stay out of politics in the future. Leave it to someone with more intelligence.

[Matthew D]

The thought of more drug testing just seems to smack of Big Brother to me...

[Siznoyton]

Federal drug agents and local police shut down 11,189 meth labs in the first 10 months of 2005

For a drug with a lot more social harms than pot, I'd say this is a pretty big number.

But I think the statement is just political posturing.

[wastedwhiteboy2]

here where I live meth is huge. gaining on the number one drug tested positive for. midwest. I disagree with testing at schools. maybe the unemployment line or cash assistance programs.

[bigSMokey]

Originally Posted by Viperspit

I'm sorry to say that I voted for this prick twice. This guy really needs to get his priorities straight.

I hear ya viper. But I only voted for him once. By 2004 I could see what the guy was about. I didn't give a **** how dry and creepy Kerry was. But it's not just Bush himself. The entire administration is very secretive and there are some strong ultra-right wing players in there. Look at former A.G. John Ashcroft - his beliefs fall somewhere in the puritan range. He's the guy who had Tommy Chong thrown in federal prison for selling bongs....post 9/11, how's that for having priorities out of whack.

[bigSMokey]

Originally Posted by joecski

It seemed odd to me that the Bush admin was making a big deal out of a small problem, meth use is actually pretty insignificant compared to marijuana, cocaine/crack, and heroin.

So, this is another justification for building fences around Mexico.

Well, erase pot right off the bat. No matter how many numbers it's users have on meth and crack users, it doesn't matter. Common sense puts the hazard of MJ at or below alcohol.

As for heroin and cocaine, I'm not even sure that they are, number-wise, bigger than meth. I believe meth is now the #2 illicit drug.

So you can ask most sheriffs/police chiefs, and they'll tell you what meth is doing to their communities. Many sheriffs have publicly expressed anger at the Bush admin's designation of marijuana as the nation's #1 drug problem (not just #1 usage volume), for it is taking attention away from the devastation being caused by meth.

[rebelhead]

Originally Posted by wastedwhiteboy2

here where I live meth is huge. gaining on the number one drug tested positive for. midwest. I disagree with testing at schools. maybe the unemployment line or cash assistance programs.

PEOPLE IN UNEMPLOYEMENT LINES AND CASH ASSISTANCE LINES HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT MAINLY CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THIER DRUG PROBLEM. HOW WILL STARVING CHILDREN HELP ANYONE? ADDICTS WILL JUST START ROBBING AND BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE THEN. MAN YOU HAVE TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT "HURTING PEOPLE INSTEAD OF HELPING THEM AS LONG AS IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO ME" CRAP WILL SOLVE ANY OF THE WORLDS PROBLEMS. BESIDES NO ONE IS OUT OF REACH OF ADDICTION. THIS COUNTRY COULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE DUTCH AS FAR AS THE DRUG PROBLEM GOES.
I BELIEVE DRUG TESTING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU CHECKED INTO THE COST OF DRUG TESTING? MEANWHILE THE NATIONAL DEFICET IS THROUGH THE ROOF. BESIDES ALL THESE ADD DRUGS LIKE ADERRAL IS AMPHETAMINE AND THE PRESCRIPTIONS GO UP EVERY YEAR TO MOSTLY CHILDREN. THE GOVERMENT DOESN'T GIVE A **** WHAT DRUGS YOU OR YOUR KIDS ARE ON AS LONG AS THE PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES ARE THE PUSHERS. THIS IS JUST MORE SMOKE AND MIRRORS FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO CLOUD THE REAL ISSUES. BIG BROTHER IS HERE TO STAY IT LOOKS LIKE.
WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE USING SOME TYPE OF DRUG THEN THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A WAR ON EVERYONE. HECK, SOME OF THIS BUNCH THINKS CREATINE IS A DANGEROUS DRUG.

[BioHazzard]

After reading this thread, I realize that there was never any drug problem until Bush became President. Yep, that's it.

[jrkarp]

First, no need to yell.

Originally Posted by rebelhead

PEOPLE IN UNEMPLOYEMENT LINES AND CASH ASSISTANCE LINES HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT MAINLY CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THIER DRUG PROBLEM. HOW WILL STARVING CHILDREN HELP ANYONE?

Fine. Let's take their children away when they test positive. As bad as foster care can be, it's a usually a damn sight better than living with a meth-head.

ADDICTS WILL JUST START ROBBING AND BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE THEN.

They are already doing this.

MAN YOU HAVE TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT "HURTING PEOPLE INSTEAD OF HELPING THEM AS LONG AS IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO ME" CRAP WILL SOLVE ANY OF THE WORLDS PROBLEMS.

They are breaking the law. Their actions have devastating consequences for their children and for society. Maybe hurting them with punishment is the only way we can get them to accept help. Remember, someone has to want help in order for it to do some good.

BESIDES NO ONE IS OUT OF REACH OF ADDICTION.

Those of us with self control, self respect, and respect for society are pretty goddam far from its reach.

THIS COUNTRY COULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE DUTCH AS FAR AS THE DRUG PROBLEM GOES.

How's that?

I BELIEVE DRUG TESTING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Pulling people off the street to do it is unconstitutional. Requiring all high school students to do it might be. Requiring it of high school athletes as a condition of being on the team is not.

IT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU CHECKED INTO THE COST OF DRUG TESTING?

Have you checked into the costs of taxpayer funded drug treatment programs, foster care, welfare, etc, that are either directly or partially related to people's use of drugs?

MEANWHILE THE NATIONAL DEFICET IS THROUGH THE ROOF.

Not because of drug testing.

BESIDES ALL THESE ADD DRUGS LIKE ADERRAL IS AMPHETAMINE AND THE PRESCRIPTIONS GO UP EVERY YEAR TO MOSTLY CHILDREN.

Prescribed by doctors. Overprescribed sometimes, yes, but not self medicated.

THE GOVERMENT DOESN'T GIVE A **** WHAT DRUGS YOU OR YOUR KIDS ARE ON AS LONG AS THE PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES ARE THE PUSHERS. THIS IS JUST MORE SMOKE AND MIRRORS FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO CLOUD THE REAL ISSUES. BIG BROTHER IS HERE TO STAY IT LOOKS LIKE.

This is so nonsensical that I don't know how to respond.

WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE USING SOME TYPE OF DRUG THEN THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A WAR ON EVERYONE.

What drug are most people in this country using, besides maybe aspirin?

HECK, SOME OF THIS BUNCH THINKS CREATINE IS A DANGEROUS DRUG.

That is true, they do think that, and that is the only thing you said that I will agree with.

[jrkarp]

Originally Posted by BioHazzard

After reading this thread, I realize that there was never any drug problem until Bush became President. Yep, that's it.

Oh, didn't you know? Absolutely EVERYTHING in the WORLD is his fault. Everything. There was no drug problem, no terrorism, no illegal immigration, no inflation, no foreign debt, no trade deficit, nothing before him. It's all his fault.

[jomi822]

the bottom line is that there will always be addicts and there will always be drugs, period. By making it a felony we make the situation worse by crowding our prisons with addicts that do not have control of the issue. i am of the opinion that we should let these addicts remove themselves from the gene pool.

we should take a look at mexico's recent legislation that legalized the use of previously controlled substances. we have spent too much time, too much money, and too much manpower attempting a war on drugs that has not improved whatsoever. the one thing it has done is put people behind bars.

also, look at some of these controlled substances. marijuana...steroids....and soon ****ing cough medicine?

i do not smoke marijuana because i do not like the way it makes me feel. i do not drink very often because it is not good for my body, i dont use cocaine because it will make you thin and is highly addictive, and i havent used ecstasy simply because the opportunity has never presented itself.

all of this boils down to one thing that people cant seem to get through their thick skulls. personal decison. who are you to tell me what i can or cannot do to my own body? think about it. these laws are the equivalent of georege bush standing in front of you and saying no you cannot do that to your own body. if you arent in control of your own flesh and blood then what the hell are you in control of?

keep your laws off of my body. period

[jrkarp]

Sometimes, the costs to society and the danger to others outweighs your ability or right to control what goes into your body.

All these libertarian viewpoints I see espoused on here would be great in a perfect world. We don't live in a perfect world.

[Siznoyton]

As i said in my post, social harms from meth use are greater than we've seen in the past from other drugs. It is insidious. Small towns have become inhabited with zombie-like tweakers. Meth is very bad ****. We're not talking about weed or a toot of coke here and there...or X or LSD, or even heroin.

[Siznoyton]

I'm with Rogue to the extent that we need more creative law enforcement. Screw paid vacation (jail time). How about mandatory servitude? Couple that with advanced electronic leg shackle monitroing, and let thme live in their own ****ty mess. I'm also 100% behind chemical castration for men and depo shots for women who prove to have addictive drug habits and consistently fail tests. Why allow them to wreck a child's life? We need to use our technologies to REDUCE the cost these addicts affect on our society.

Bottom line is that the incentive to make meth far outweighs the incentives not to, and until that changes (either through positive reinforcement or positive punishement), nothing will change except the prison population, and no one wants that.

[jrkarp]

Originally Posted by Siznoyton

I'm also 100% behind chemical castration for men and depo shots for women who prove to have addictive drug habits and consistently fail tests.

I'm 100% behind actual castration for repeat sexual offenders.

[Siznoyton]

Originally Posted by jrkarp

I'm 100% behind actual castration for repeat sexual offenders.

Ha....me too, most definitely....but try convincing the ACLU...they love going to bat for repeat pedophiles and child porn websites.

They stand up for the KKK, where smart countries just say "F off, hate groups are illegal here."