Oklahoma's new meth law cited for decline in prison receptions

Thursday, April 21st 2005, 5:22 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials say a state law that led to a dramatic decline in methamphetamine lab seizures by Oklahoma law enforcement authorities is making a difference at prisons, too.

According to statistics from the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center, the average number of inmates sentenced to prison for meth-related crimes has been cut by about half since the law took effect in October.

It requires nasal decongestants like Sudafed and Claritin-D that contain pseudoephedrine to be placed behind pharmacy counters. The drug is a key ingredient in methamphetamine.

Before the law took effect, about 50 inmates were sentenced to prison each month. That's down to 26 per month now.

Oklahoma's ground-breaking law led six states to pass similar laws, and dozens of other states are considering them.