Experts Say Meth Problem Increased

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy faculty members Trish Freeman and Jeffery Talbert told a joint meeting of the state Senate and House judiciary committees Thursday that treatment for meth-related illnesses and reports of clandestine meth labs have increased since 2008, the year Kentucky began electronic tracking of the sale of a key ingredient in the drug meant to curb its use. Freeman and Talbert say indications are the state's methamphetamine problem is worsening despite existing regulations. Legislators are again considering a proposal to require that cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine, which is used in making meth, be available only with a doctor's prescription. Freeman and Talbert performed a recent review of state and federal pseudoephedrine regulations for the National Association of State Controlled Substance Authorities that showed there was an initial reduction in meth treatments and the number of meth labs discovered, but that those results were temporary. The study showed meth-related hospitalizations increased from 198 in 2008 to 385 in 2010. Meth labs discovered in that period increased from 428 to more than 1,000 in the same period.