María Elvira Salazar: “amendment No. 2223 addresses a serious and growing problem that we face in our urban and rural communities. As attorney…”

“amendment No. 2223 addresses a serious and growing problem that we face in our urban and rural communities. As attorney general of Colorado, I saw firsthand the growth of methamphetamine problems in communities throughout my State. Meth usage has increased in rural towns and communities across our Nation. Some of the facts are startling. According to the National Association of Counties, meth use is the Nation's most serious local drug problem today. Secondly, 58 out of 500 county law enforcement officials have said methamphetamine use is, in fact, their largest problem. Third, 87 percent of county law enforcement officials reported increases in meth arrests in just the last 3 years. In the West, methamphetamine use is a growing problem. Between 67 and 75 percent of the western counties rated meth as their No. 1 drug problem. The labs for meth production are rising in rural areas. Because meth can be made in the home and has harsh effects on the environment, it is easier to hide from authorities in rural areas. Three of our most rural States--Missouri, Iowa, and Tennessee--have the highest number of meth labs, with over 5,000 meth labs in those three States alone. Meth labs in Colorado have been on the rise, with over 225 meth labs this last year in my State. In a report by Congressional Quarterly, the Drug Enforcement Agency said that meth use is the No. 1 drug threat in rural America.…”