meth. in Arkansas
Beebe, Hutchinson Agree On Meth Threats
ROGERS -- Both announced major party candidates for governor agreed Friday illegal methamphetamine remains one of the state's major problems, although the nature of the threat is changing.
Methamphetamine from home-based producers is dropping because of a combination of laws restricting cold medicines, a vital source of raw materials for the product, and competition from bigger, more organized illegal methamphetamine factories producing a more potent product for a cheaper price.
Those points were agreed upon by both Attorney General Mike Beebe and former federal Drug Enforcement Administration director Asa Hutchinson. Both men are running for governor, Beebe as a Democrat and Hutchinson as a Republican.
Both candidates spoke to the second annual Northwest Arkansas Methamphetamine Awareness Luncheon, held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Rogers. The event was attended by at least 150 community leaders, ranging from local sheriffs, police chiefs and legislators to school district superintendents and businessmen.
The event was hosted by the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and presided over by U.S. Attorney Bob Balfe and Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Robin Green.
Methamphetamine has an estimated negative economic impact of $22 million a year in Benton County alone, Balfe said. That includes taxpayer costs for investigating and prosecuting drug-related crimes, thefts and other wrongdoings related to drugs, and higher insurance rates because of fires and other mishaps related to making the illegal drug, he said.
Beebe said he has supported laws to restrict the sale of cold medicines used to make the drug. Those laws are reducing the number of methamphetamine laboratories in the state, but won't be completely effective until all surrounding states adopt similar laws, he said.
Hutchinson, in his remarks, also said that all level of state, federal and local government cooperation is needed to eradicate use of the drug. He said an estimated 70 percent of the illegal methamphetamine used in Arkansas comes from out of state.
Green also spoke, saying that 42 percent of the felony cases on the prosecuting attorney office's docket in Benton County are drug offenses. He said methamphetamine is the "catalyst" of even more crimes committed to get money to purchase the illegal drug.
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