Faculty Publications

Controlling Methamphetamine Precursors: From Policy to Practice – An Overview of Findings.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

July 2008

Abstract

Small toxic lab (STL) methamphetamine production is a significant community health and safety issue involving manufacturer, property, and general public toxic chemical exposure. Most policy attempts to reduce the prevalence and consequences of STLs have focused on controlling access to precursor chemicals and have occurred at the state and, more recently, Federal level. We present variance in the types of state and federal precursor policies, key informant perspectives on policy impact, data on changes in STL seizures after the implementation of state precursor policies, and public health implications of state policies. The first presentation will describe state methamphetamine precursor policies and will focus on the types and amounts of chemicals restricted for sale and possession, product placement restrictions, and penalties and other enforcement requirements associated with violations of the restrictions as well as the relationship between the state policies and current federal law. The second presentation will focus on key informant perspectives in five states on the impact of these policies (key informants include legislators and other state policy makers, law enforcement personnel, and independent pharmacists). The third presentation will focus on changes in STL seizures before and after implementation of state methamphetamine precursor policies, examining numbers of seizures, chemicals seized and changes in other health and safety variables. The final presentation will focus on the public health policy implications of the findings. A National Institute of Justice (our project sponsor) discussant will focus on national implications of the reported findings.

Journal Title

National Institute of Justice

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