Chuck Grassley: “today I am pleased to say that S. 1965-- what we call the meth bill--has finally passed. I want to thank all Members for…”

“today I am pleased to say that S. 1965-- what we call the meth bill--has finally passed. I want to thank all Members for letting this important piece of legislation get through the Senate. S. 1965, a bipartisan bill, takes aim at a rapidly growing problem in America and in Iowa--the abuse of methamphetamine, known on the street as ``meth'' or ``crank.'' I am from Iowa--a rural state which most people do not associate with rampant crime or drug use. But in Iowa today, meth use has increased dramatically. According to a report prepared by the Governor's Alliance on Substance Abuse, seizures of meth in Des Moines increased an astounding 4,000 percent from 1993 to 1994. I repeat: meth seizures in Des Moines increased by 4,000 percent. The increase statewide was 400 percent. These numbers are scary, Mr. President. And according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 7.3 percent of Iowans seeking help from substance abuse treatment centers in 1995 cited meth as their primary addiction. That's up over 5 percent from 1994, when only 2.2 percent cited meth as their primary addition. Why has meth become such a problem? I don't think anyone knows definitively, but experts have been able to identify some of the reasons. Meth is cheap. A meth high lasts for a very, very long time, so you get more for your money. And perhaps most disturbingly, meth does not have the stigma associated with cocaine and crack. Kids know that crack is dangerous.…”