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New law aims at attacking meth

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published March 11, 2010

DeKalb County District Attorney Mike O’Dell said he believes a new law could help curb the manufacture of methamphetamine statewide.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank McDaniel and Sen. Lowell Barron, that will create an electronic database to help law enforcement track excessive purchases of psuedoephedrine, the chief ingredient used in the manufacture of meth.

Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall initially authored the bill, which O’Dell later reviewed. O’Dell said Barron, and – especially McDaniel – were instrumental in getting the bill passed.

“One of the saddest things I’ve heard about in recent months is the pending retirement of Rep. McDaniel,” O’Dell said. “During the past several years, he has been vital in helping pass stronger laws pertaining to illegal drug use, especially meth. Because of him, we are better equipped today to deal with the meth problem. He will be greatly missed.”

O’Dell said the new law creates a computerized system that modernizes logs already kept on paper, making it possible to restrict excessive purchases of psuedoephedrine and provide instant tracking for law enforcement.

The new law creates a database in which every pharmacy or retailer selling ephedrine or pseudoephedrine products would be required to enter the purchaser's identifying information into an electronic database prior to any sale.

The database would then notify the seller if the purchaser had exceeded his or her daily or monthly limit for such purchases. Information in the database would be shared with law enforcement agencies.

“This system will allow us to more effectively track and limit the practice of smurfing – that’s when a large group of people go together in one vehicle to a pharmacy or store, then each one goes in and separately buys the maximum amount of psuedoephedrine allowed under the law,” O’Dell said. “Under the system this law creates, we will be able to track those type of purchases. It helps us stay one step ahead of the drug manufacturers.”

Barron said he believes the new law has been greatly needed.

“North Alabama in particular has suffered from severe problems with the growth of meth labs,” Barron said. “This will stop potential criminals who are buying these drugs in order to make methamphetamine. This new legislation also gives law enforcement additional tools to help curb this epidemic.”

McDaniel agreed.

“The meth problem has become so bad that [Northeast Alabama] has been called the Meth Mountain,” he said. “Families are being destroyed by this powerfully addictive drug. Every step we take forward with stronger laws is vital.”

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