FORT WAYNE, Indiana (June 30, 2005) Indiana took additional steps to strengthen its fight against methamphetamine use today as Governor Mitch Daniels announced formation of the Meth Free Indiana Coalition. The collaborative effort among more than 15 law enforcement and social services agencies and business and trade associations from across the state will focus on prevention and education, treatment and enforcement.

Tomorrow, when the Meth Prevention Act becomes effective, Indiana will no longer be a clearinghouse for the purchase of methamphetamine ingredients. In addition, we are gathering the state's resources to further educate the public so Hoosiers can become more active in helping our efforts, said the governor during a stop at a Marsh Supermarket in Ft. Wayne

The Meth Free Indiana Coalition will be coordinated by the Criminal Justice Institute. That coalition will soon launch the Meth Watch program to better help retailers understand the law's new requirements and to extend education efforts to the public.

The Criminal Justice Institute recently sent packets of information about the new law to more than 5,000 retailers across the state. The packet includes instructions to help retailers implement the law, state police-approved log sheets and a list of the more than 700 products affected by the new law.

“I know this law is a personal inconvenience but it's one that I hope most Hoosiers are willing to accept because it helps us shut down access to this devastating drug,” said Governor Daniels.

Among requirements, purchasers of products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine must be 18 years or older, present an Indiana identification and sign a sales log. In addition, pharmacies or stores with open pharmacies must place such products in the direct line of sight of a pharmacy counter with constant video monitoring, in a locked cabinet or behind a counter. Stores that do not have pharmacies or when their pharmacies are closed, must place such products in a locked cabinet or behind a counter. Consumers also are limited to the purchase of only 3 grams of products containing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine products per week.

Indiana is the only state to include liquid and gel tabs in its restrictions.

Governor Daniels also updated other continuing efforts to fight the methamphetamine problem in Indiana:

The state police have launched a meth suppression unit that is solely dedicated to identifying and seizing drug labs and interdicting meth trafficked from other states and Mexico.

With the success of the meth treatment program at the Miami County Correctional Facility, a program initiated by Governor Daniels, a new meth treatment unit has been launched at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. The Indiana Department of Correction has been profiled nationally as the only agency in the country to dedicate entire drug treatment units at its facilities to rehabilitation of meth offenders.

The Drug Endangered Children protocol developed by the Department of Child Services is near completion and will be unrolled in training sessions in July.

The Governor's University Partnership is starting a pilot drug testing program between Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and drug prosecutors in Hendricks, Boone and Hamilton counties.

The state police have hired five forensic scientists for the Indianapolis lab to assist with eliminating a drug testing backlog.

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorney's Council has begun efforts to remove closed cases for the testing pipeline and has so far, removed 400 cases from the state backlog.

More information about provisions of the law and information about meth programs may be found at: http://www.in.gov/cji/methfree/.

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