SLOWING A 'SCOURGE'

Carson seeks to copy state's meth law Here's hoping U.S.  Rep.  Brad Carson succeeds in his effort to get the federal government to copy a new Oklahoma law that's aimed at making life a little more difficult for methamphetamine producers.

The law, in effect since April 7, bans store sales of the tablet form of pseudoephedrine, which besides being a decongestant is a primary ingredient used to make meth.  The law requires that pseudoephedrine tablets be sold only at licensed pharmacies to people who provide a photo ID and sign for the drug.

In addition, customers can't buy more than 9 grams of the tablets ( about 12 boxes ) during a 30-day period.  The law doesn't apply to gel caps and liquid forms of pseudoephedrine.

The push for Oklahoma's law stemmed from the clear need to do something - anything - to curb the manufacture of the highly addictive drug.  The number of meth lab seizures has skyrocketed in the past decade, to more than 1,200 in 2003, and law officers guess there were as many as 60,000 labs operating last year.

On the national level, the Drug Enforcement Administration has seized more than 38,500 meth labs in 48 states since 1991.  A report released in March by the Council of State Governments showed 31 percent of all local and state law enforcement agencies considered meth their No.  1 drug threat.

The state narcotics bureau has seen a dip in the number of reported meth labs since Oklahoma's law took effect.  Agency Director Lonnie Wright says a national law would keep meth makers from going to other states to get what they need.

In announcing plans to introduce a bill making tablet forms of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine controlled substances available only from pharmacists, Carson, D-Claremore, called meth "a scourge that is ravaging families in our state and country and shattering lives." He's right about that and is right to try to do something to curb it.