Meth Epidemic Solutions

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1st global conference onmethamphetamineScience,
Strategy andResponse Prague, Czech
Republic15th-16th Sept. 2008
Session B MethamphetamineLaboratories
Eradication through effective control of
pseudo/ephedrine Rob Bovett (United
States) Cleanup standards how clean is
clean? David Durst (United States) Safety for
responders James Gates (Canada) Pharmacies and
production of meth in the Czech
Republic Stanislav Havlicek (Czech Republic)
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1st global conference onmethamphetamineScience,
Strategy andResponse Prague, Czech
Republic15th-16th Sept. 2008
MethEpidemic Solutions
Meth and Meth Lab Eradication Through Effective
Control of Pseudo/ephedrine
Rob BovettLegal CounselOregon Narcotics
Enforcement Association
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Handouts . . .
www.oregondec.org
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Pseudo/ephedrine and Meth
()-Pseudoephedrine (C10H15NO)
()-Methamphetamine (C10H15N)
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A meth lab
(Ogata or Birch reduction)
Start with pseudo/ephedrine
Remove the hydroxyl group
Add back hydrogen
()-Pseudoephedrine (C10H15NO)
()-Methamphetamine (C10H15N)
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Source of meth manufacture

• In the U.S. before effective PSE controls
• 35 of meth from small toxic labs
• 65 from DTO super labs

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PSE flowing to the super labs
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Most PSE is produced in9 factories in 3
countries
Pictures courtesy of The Oregonian
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Cutting off the supply
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The Results . . .

• PSE imports plummet
• Mexico
• 2004 226 metric tons
• 2005 98 metric tons
• 2006 43 metric tons
• 2007 40 metric tons
• 2008 0 metric tons
• 2009 ban

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The Results . . .
. . . and Mexico responds . . .
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(No Transcript)
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The drug cartels scramble . . .
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Meth purity goes down . . .
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Meth price goes up . . .
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Now theres even more pressureto cook meth
locally
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Reducing local meth labsRecent lessons learned
in the U.S.

• Meth lab reductions from PSE controls
• Quantity limitations
• Little to no reduction
• Behind the counter
• 40-70 reduction
• Behind the counter - pharmacy only
• 70-90 reduction
• Whats left?
• Smurfing!

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Eliminating smurfing

• Options
• 1. Electronic database monitoring
• Complicated
• Burdensome
• Expensive
• Limited impact
• 2. Prescription only
• Oregon . . . since 2006 . . .

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Smurfing by example . . .
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There were only a few no votes

• HB 2485
• 9 out of 90

• SB 907
• 1 out of 90

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Results of moving PSE to prescription
onlyOregon meth labs virtually eliminated

• Even more striking
• 16 of the 18 in 2007 were dump sites or remnants!

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The sky didnt fall

• Few complaints
• No public outcry
• Pharma reformulated their products
• I still live in Oregon
• The law is now broadly celebrated

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Meth is an unnecessary epidemicLets end it now
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Meth Epidemic Solutions
Rob Bovett Legal Counsel, ONEA President,
OADECrbovett_at_co.lincoln.or.us