Federal anti-meth law targets access to pseudoephedrine

The next step should be a major boost in funding for meth addiction treatment, some doctors say.

By Amy Snow Landa, AMNews correspondent. April 3, 2006.

President Bush recently signed into law a measure to combat methamphetamine abuse through increased funding to investigate and prosecute offenders and limits on consumer access to products containing pseudoephedrine, a key meth ingredient.

But there is an important piece not addressed by the legislation, according to physicians who provide care for meth addicts and their children.

"Unfortunately, the thing that is absolutely lacking -- it's just a glaring hole in the legislation -- is treatment," said Kathryn Wells, MD, medical director of the Denver Family Crisis Center at the Denver Health Medical Center.

"I don't think we can fully address the issue of meth addiction in our country if we don't address treatment," said Dr. Wells. She serves on the executive committee of Colorado's Drug Endangered Children program and is a board member of the Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The number of people seeking treatment has skyrocketed during the past decade. For example, the number of meth users admitted to substance abuse clinics nationwide more than quadrupled, from 28,000, or 2% of all drug treatment admissions, in 1993 to 136,000, or 7% of admissions, in 2003, according to a March 1 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The need for treatment programs is increasing dramatically, and lack of funding is an obstacle in meeting the demand, states the National Assn. of Counties. The group surveyed 200 county behavioral health officials in late 2005. Sixty-three percent reported they do not have sufficient capacity in county programs to treat meth addicts, and 57% say the reason is lack of funding.