New tools to fight meth war proposed

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Law enforcement officials told state lawmakers Thursday that a strictly law-and-order approach to Oklahoma's meth manufacturing problem won't work. <br><br>They say most

Thursday, September 11th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Law enforcement officials told state lawmakers Thursday that a strictly law-and-order approach to Oklahoma's meth manufacturing problem won't work.

They say most Oklahoma meth makers are addicted and not making the drug for a profit.

An interim study on the issue is being conducted by the state House Criminal Justice Committee.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Director Lonnie Wright suggested expanding treatment programs and placing tighter controls on common cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the chemical most used in meth manufacturing.

He also says lawmakers might want to look at developing a civil commitment procedure for small-time meth manufacturers.

Under such a system, meth makers would be confined after their arrest so they could be detoxified.