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| Iowa's Drug Czar, Marvin Van Haaften IOWA PRESS #3215>> Borg: WAR... ON DRUGS: TWIN BATTLES TO DISRUPT DRUG PRODUCTION AND REDUCE CONSUMPTION. A PROGRESS REPORT FROM IOWA'S DRUG CZAR, MARVIN VAN HAAFTEN, ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG. Borg: THE BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS HAS TWO FRONTS. ONE SEEKS TO DISRUPT THE MANUFACTURER OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES. THE OTHER DEALS WITH CONTROLLING DEMAND FOR DRUGS, IN OTHER WORDS, STOPPING HABITS. LIKE MOST WARS, THIS ONE ON DRUGS COSTS MONEY AND REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE DIPLOMACY IN ESTABLISHING A COALITION OF ALLIES. AND EVEN AS PROGRESS IS MADE ON ONE FRONT, IT SEEMS THAT ANOTHER ONE OPENS. IN THIS CASE THAT NEW ENEMY IS METHAMPHETAMINE. MUCH LIKE A TERRORIST MAKES A BOMB IN A SECLUDED BACK ROOM, METHAMPHETAMINE LABS PROLIFERATE ACROSS IOWA'S COUNTRYSIDE. FOR INSIGHT INTO THE PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS TOWARD CONTROLLING THIS PERVASIVE SCOURGE, WE'VE INVITED IOWA'S DRUG CONTROL CZAR TO THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE TODAY. CAREER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL MARVIN VAN HAAFTEN IS COMPLETING NOW HIS SECOND YEAR AS IOWA'S DRUG POLICY COORDINATOR FOR GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK. HE CHAIRS THE 15-MEMBER IOWA DRUG POLICY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND DIRECTS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY. MR. VAN HAAFTEN, WELCOME TO "IOWA PRESS." Van Haaften: THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. Borg: ALSO WITH US HERE AT THE TABLE: "DES MOINES REGISTER" COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN AND "ASSOCIATED PRESS" SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER MIKE GLOVER. Glover: MR. VAN HAAFTEN, LET'S START WITH A STEP-BACK LOOK IN DEFINING THE PROBLEM. WHAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN IOWA? TELL US WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING HERE. Van Haaften: WELL -- AND IT'S GOOD TO STEP BACK. WE HAVE SEEN ALCOHOL USE ACTUALLY DROP A LITTLE BIT. OUR LEGAL DRUG, ALCOHOL, STILL IS OUR NUMBER ONE DRUG, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE ABOUT 52 PERCENT OF ALL PEOPLE IN TREATMENT, THEIR PRIMARY DRUG OF ADDICTION IS ALCOHOL. THAT'S ACTUALLY FOLLOWED BY MARIJUANA. ABOUT 23 PERCENT OF ALL PEOPLE IN DRUG TREATMENT HAVE THEIR NUMBER ONE DRUG OF ADDICTION AS MARIJUANA. WHAT DEAN COMMENTED ON AND WHAT IS ALARMING IS THE NUMBER THREE DRUG IN IOWA, WHICH IS NOW UP TO 16 PERCENT OF ALL THOSE IN TREATMENT WITH METH AS THEIR PRIMARY DRUG OF ADDICTION, KIND OF REFLECT OUR NEW DRUG THAT'S ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. I WANT TO SAY, TOO, THAT OVER THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, ACTUALLY WE'VE SEEN A 32-PERCENT NATIONWIDE DROP IN THE USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN MILLION LESS PEOPLE ADDICTED TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT DRUG WARS AND WE THINK WE'RE SEEING A TREMENDOUS INCREASE. ACTUALLY WE'RE DOING FAIRLY WELL NATIONWIDE, SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE LESS THAN TWENTY YEARS AGO. ALSO, OUR IOWA YOUTH SURVEY, TOBACCO USE, I BELIEVE, WAS DOWN 7 PERCENT OVER THREE YEARS AGO, ALCOHOL USE WAS DOWN 5 PERCENT, AND OVERALL DRUG USE WAS DONE 3 PERCENT. SO IN OUR SCHOOLS AND AMONG OUR YOUTH, WE DO HAVE SOME TRENDS SHOWING THAT THE HARD WORK OF PREVENTION AND TREATMENT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. Glover: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DRUG USE IN IOWA, THAT ALMOST SEEMS TO BE EQUATED WITH METHAMPHETAMINE. WHY? WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THAT DRUG? Van Haaften: WELL, PER CAPITA WE ARE NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION, AND PRETTY SOLIDLY NUMBER TWO IF YOU JUST DIVIDE OUR METH LABS BY THE 2.9 MILLION INHABITANTS HERE. WE'RE CLEARLY NUMBER TWO BEHIND MISSOURI. IN MY FORMER OCCUPATION AS SHERIFF, I THINK THAT EXPLAINS WHY I COULD NOT WALK INTO A RESTAURANT OR MAYBE WALMART DOWNTOWN PELLA OR KNOXVILLE AND SOMEONE'S LIFE THERE WAS AFFECTED BY METH. AND THERE ARE JUST TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES WITH METH, WITH SLEEP DEPRIVATION, JOBS THAT ARE LOST, FAMILIES ARE DESTROYED, RELATIONSHIPS ARE DESTROYED, STUDENTS DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. AND THAT ISN'T HAPPENING OBVIOUSLY WITH ALCOHOL AND SOME OF THE OTHER DRUGS, SO IT REALLY AFFECTS IOWANS' LIVES DIRECTLY. ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, WE'RE NUMBER TWO, SO WE HEAR ABOUT IT. Yepsen: WELL, WHY AREN'T WE WINNING THE WAR ON METHAMPHETAMINES? I MEAN YOU TALK ABOUT NATIONAL STATISTICS GOING DOWN. IN IOWA, IT'S MY VIEW AND MY PERCEPTION THAT THE NUMBER OF LABS AND PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH JUST METHAMPHETAMINE IS ON THE INCREASE. Van Haaften: IT HAS BEEN, DAVID. MISSOURI CLEARLY LEADS THE NATION ACCORDING TO THE EL PASO INTELLIGENCE CENTER. THEY MAY HAVE NEAR 3,000 LABS THIS YEAR. NOVEMBER 30 WE HAD 1,085 LABS. THAT'S ABOVE A YEAR AGO, SO WE'RE STILL INCREASING, UNFORTUNATELY. HOWEVER, WE WERE NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION IN METH LABS BEHIND MISSOURI UNTIL JUNE. AND AFTER JUNE 30 TENNESSEE SUDDENLY TOOK OVER SECOND PLACE AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. TENNESSEE IS JUST RISING DRAMATICALLY. THE METH PROBLEM IS NOW WORKING ITS WAY EASTWARD AT A RAPID, RAPID PACE. Yepsen: WHY? I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE THERE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT WHY DO WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM HERE AS OPPOSED TO NEBRASKA OR -- WE HAD A LITTLE CHART IN OUR PAPER ON FRIDAY ABOUT WHERE THESE PROBLEMS ARE. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT IOWA? IS IT THE INTERSTATES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE? WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT US? Van Haaften: WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, WE ARE A MARKETING AREA. AND I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS FOR THAT. THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LISTED SEVEN KEY MARKETING AREAS FOR METHAMPHETAMINE. IF YOU'VE GOT METHAMPHETAMINE TO SELL, HERE'S WHERE TO GO. AND THAT WAS SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND THEN IT CAME RIGHT HERE ON THE HEARTLAND: MISSOURI, IOWA, ARKANSAS. THE TRI-STATE DRUG TASK FORCE IN SIOUX CITY HAD A HISPANIC MALE WHO WAS JUST GIVEN A MAP WITH IOWA CIRCLED AND COMMUNITIES IN IOWA CIRCLED TO GO TO AND SELL THE METHAMPHETAMINE. NEVER BEEN TO IOWA IN HIS LIFE. HE'S AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. WE HAVE A MARKET HERE. MAYBE WE'RE RIGHT FOR THIS. MAYBE OUR STATE GOT AN INTRODUCTION TO IT FROM THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE INTERSTATE 29, 35, AND 80. AND ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE ANHYDROUS AMMONIA, WHICH IS SUCH A READILY AVAILABLE COMPONENT OF MAKING METH, AND THAT ATTRIBUTES FOR 99 PERCENT OF OUR METH LABS. SO UNFORTUNATELY, ALL I CAN REALLY ANSWER THAT BY IS SAYING THIS IS A MARKETING AREA AND WE HAVE TO DO SOME DEMAND REDUCTION TO CHANGE THAT. Glover: IF METHAMPHETAMINE AND THE PROBLEM WITH METHAMPHETAMINE IS ON THE RISE, WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? ARE WE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY? ARE WE NOT PUTTING ENOUGH AGENTS IN THE FIELD? ARE WE NOT SENDING PEOPLE TO PRISON LONG ENOUGH? WHAT'S OUR MISTAKE HERE? Van Haaften: WELL, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY OUR MISTAKE IS PROBABLY EDUCATION. I MEAN YOU'VE GOT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. METHAMPHETAMINE IS PROBABLY THE MOST ADDICTIVE DRUG AVAILABLE. THE DOPAMINES IN THE BRAIN ARE JUST RELEASED SUDDENLY. I HAD A METH ADDICT WHO HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF OUR STATE PRISON SYSTEM, IF I MAY SAY IT THAT WAY, TALK ABOUT HIS HONEYMOON. HE HAD BEEN ON HIS HONEYMOON, BUT HE SAID HIS FIRST METH EXPERIENCE WAS A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER THAN HIS HONEYMOON. IT IS SUCH AN ADDICTIVE DRUG THAT WE'VE GOT TO STOP THAT FIRST USE, AND I THINK YOU STOP THAT FIRST USE BY EDUCATION. I LOVE WHAT PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG FREE AMERICA AND PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG FREE IOWA PROMOTE. AND WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE BOOKLET CALLED THE POWER OF GRANDPARENTS. THAT SIMPLY SAYS -- AND THAT'S PROBABLY ONE THING IOWANS NEED TO REMEMBER FROM TODAY'S MEETING HERE. IF YOU AS A PARENT, IF YOU AS A GRANDPARENT, IF YOU AS A CARETAKER WARN YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE, AND THAT'S ANY DRUG ABUSE, THOSE CHILDREN ARE 50 PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIMENT THAN IF THEY RECEIVE NO WARNINGS. SO ALL OF US AS GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR KIDS AND STOP THAT FIRST USE IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. Borg: SO WHAT YOU'RE EMPHASIZING IS EDUCATION OF YOUNGSTERS; IS THAT RIGHT? Van Haaften: THAT'S CORRECT. Borg: NOW, THAT BRINGS INTO FOCUS THE DARE PROGRAM. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR, THE ACRONYM? Van Haaften: DRUG ABUSE DEMAND REDUCTION. Borg: THAT'S RIGHT. COORDINATED BY POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN IOWA. SOME SAID THAT'S NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TOO? Van Haaften: I THINK THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT. DARE RECENTLY GOT A ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON GRANT. THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, OHIO, HAS COMPLETELY REWRITTEN THE CURRICULUM. IT IS NOW A SCIENCE-BASED CURRICULUM. IT WASN'T IN THE PAST. I THINK THE RESULTS WILL BE COMING IN LATER THIS FALL OR EARLY SPRING ABOUT THAT CURRICULUM. SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOL MONEYS CAN NOW BE USED FOR DARE. AND I'VE MADE IT A GOAL OF MINE TO GET ALL OF OUR DARE INSTRUCTORS RECERTIFIED, IF YOU WILL, IN THE NEW SCIENCE-BASED CURRICULUM. SO I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME BETTER RESULTS AHEAD. Borg: NOW, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT GOALS THERE. I WANT TO LEAD INTO THIS NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SESSION THERE. WHAT'S YOUR TOP PRIORITY IN GOING TO LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR? Van Haaften: MY TOP PRIORITY HAS TO BE, AGAIN, DOING SOMETHING WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. PSEUDOEPHEDRIN IS ONE OXYGEN MOLECULE AWAY FROM METHAMPHETAMINE. SO WHEN I TAKE PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, WHAT'S IN MY BLOOD SYSTEM IS ONE OXYGEN MOLECULE REMOVED FROM METH. IT IS SO EASY TO STRIP THAT OXYGEN MOLECULE OFF AND MAKE METH. THE CURRENT LAW WE HAVE LIMITS YOU TO A TWO-PACKAGE LIMIT OF SINGLE ACTIVE INGREDIENT PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. THAT'S LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF WHAT'S ON THE SHELF. THE OTHER 98 PERCENT IS A MULTIPLE INGREDIENT PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, AND ALREADY LAST YEAR ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF OUR METH LABS WERE MULTIPLE INGREDIENT PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. SO THE OTHER THING I NEED TO ADD, MISSOURI HAS SOME OF THE STRICTEST QUANTITY LIMITS ON BOTH MULTIPLE AND BOTH SINGLE ACTIVE INGREDIENT, AND THEY'RE SOON TO TOP OUT NEAR 3,000 METH LABS. SO I REALLY WANT TO GO FOR SCHEDULE 5. Yepsen: A LOT OF TECHNICAL TERMS THERE. YOU WANT PSEUDOEPHEDRINE -- THIS IS COLD MEDICINE. THIS IS DRUGS, COMMERCIAL NAMES LIKE SUDAFED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT YOU WANT TO DO WHAT WITH, TAKE OFF THE SHELVES? WHERE DO I GO BUY THEM IF YOU DO THAT? Van Haaften: THE PSEUDOEPHEDRINE THAT'S FOUND IN COLD MEDICINE -- THERE ARE OTHER COLD MEDICINES PROBABLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE, LIKE NEOSYNEPHRINE. THERE ARE OTHER DECONGESTANTS BUT ALL COLD MEDICINE CONTAINING PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE FIND IN THE LABS, YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO TO A PHARMACIST, SHOW AN ID, YOUR NAME IS KEPT IN A LOG, AND THEN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME WITH YOUR PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. NO PRESCRIPTION BUT THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD OBTAIN IT. Yepsen: WHAT SHOULD -- A BROADER QUESTION HERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO DO. THERE WILL BE A BIG FIGHT ABOUT THAT. WHAT'S YOUR ARGUMENT TO RETAILERS WHO WILL SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HURT MY BUSINESS? YOU RAN INTO SOME OPPOSITION WITH THIS IDEA BEFORE. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE BUSINESSES THAT'S SAY WHERE DOES GOVERNMENT STOP REGULATING THINGS? Van Haaften: WELL, WHEN PEOPLE ARE DYING -- I TALKED TO SOMEONE WITH A MAJOR BUSINESS IN IOWA THAT USES SHEET METAL. SOME WORKERS ARE HAVING THEIR FINGERS AND HANDS CAUGHT IN MACHINERY THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR METH USE. WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN DYING AND THAT TYPE OF TRAGEDY GOING ON IN IOWA, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT. WHAT I SAY TO RETAILERS, I THINK WE CAN WORK AROUND THIS. THERE'S A BIG CONFERENCE TODAY WHERE 15 STATES ARE LOOKING AT SCHEDULE 5 IN ST. LOUIS, SO I WANT TO BE A LITTLE GUARDED IN MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THERE. BUT THERE IS A WAY WE CAN PROVIDE SOME ACCESS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT IN SMALL-TOWN IOWA ON A SUNDAY NIGHT. THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THE RETAILERS ON DOING THAT. Glover: SO WE LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF SOME COLD MEDICINES TO PREVENT THEM BEING USED IN METH LABS. WHAT ELSE CAN THIS STATE DO TO COMBAT METH PRODUCTION THAT YOU SEE AS A HUGE PROBLEM? Van Haaften: WHAT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS DONE -- AND THE RESEARCH HAS PROVEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THAT -- IS DEVELOPED AN ADDITIVE TO THE ADDED ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. THAT ADDITIVE WAS TESTED BY THE DEA LABORATORIES IN DULLES, VIRGINIA. TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. A 0- TO 2-PERCENT YIELD WITH THE ADULTERATED ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. MANY STATES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LOOKING AT THAT. GOVERNOR PATAKI'S OFFICE IN NEW YORK JUST CALLED ME LAST WEEK, AND METH LABS ARE CROPPING UP NEAR ALBANY, NEW YORK. HE WANTS TO ADD IT TO ANHYDROUS AMMONIA THERE. THAT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT. I THINK WITH 99 PERCENT OF OUR METH LABS ANHYDROUS-AMMONIA BASED, THAT COULD ALMOST SHUT DOWN ANHYDROUS-AMMONIA LAB PRODUCTION IN ITSELF. Yepsen: JUST A TECHNICAL QUESTION. WHAT DOES A DRUG -- WHAT DOES A METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCER, COOKER, DO WITH ANHYDROUS? Van Haaften: IT'S ONE OF THE KEY ADDITIVES. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE IS THE ESSENTIAL ADDITIVE SINCE IT CONVERTS TO METH. BUT THAT IS PUT INTO A BOWL. INTO THAT BOWL LITHIUM STRIPS ARE ADDED, MURIC ACID. AND WHEN ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS ADDED, IT FLASHES BLUE, A CHEMICAL REACTION TAKES PLACE, AND IT'S PSEUDOEPHEDRINE BASED. THAT BASE IS THEN CONVERTED TO POWDER, AND THAT'S BASICALLY HOW WE END UP WITH PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. Yepsen: WHAT ABOUT OTHER DRUGS IN IOWA? ARE THERE -- COCAINE, HEROIN, MARIJUANA, WHAT ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF DRUGS? ARE THERE INITIATIVES YOU HAVE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH THOSE DRUGS, OR ARE THEY NOT AS BIG OF A PROBLEM? Van Haaften: YOU KNOW, IN OUR NEW STRATEGY, I HAVE 12 PAGES OF INITIATIVES SO, DAVE, I'M GOING TO BE HARD PRESSED TO REMEMBER THEM ALL, SOME MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS. MARIJUANA CONCERNS ME SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PURITY IS SKYROCKETING. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CIGARETTES BECAUSE WE CARD. THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ALCOHOL BECAUSE YOU NEED TO SHOW AN ID. SOME OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE SAYING THAT IT'S EASIER FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET MARIJUANA THAN IT IS CIGARETTES OR ALCOHOL. THAT'S A SCARY THOUGHT. SOME MARIJUANA TODAY, OUR CRIME LAB REGULARLY TESTS 24-PERCENT-PURE JOINTS. THERE ARE SOME PLANTS NOW, AND I HAVE PICTURES OF ONE AT THE OFFICE, THAT PRODUCE 37-PERCENT PURE. WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY IN 1963 IN FORT RILEY, KANSAS, IT WAS AT BEST 2-PERCENT PURE. SO WE HAVE SOME VERY PURE FORMS OF MARIJUANA. OUR MARIJUANA ADDICTION, PEOPLE IN TREATMENT ARE GOING UP. IT IS TO THE POINT NOW WHERE I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A REAL SERIOUS LOOK AT MARIJUANA AGAIN FOR ITS ADDICTIVE QUALITIES. Glover: SPEAKING OF ADDICTIVE QUALITIES -- AND IT'S A DRUG THAT WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DRUG ABUSE -- BUT ARGUABLY, MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM TOBACCO USE THAN ANY OTHER DRUG USE. HOW ARE WE FARING IN THE WAR ON TOBACCO? Van Haaften: WELL, I KNOW IN OUR YOUTH SURVEY, 7 PERCENT LESS YOUTH ARE USING TOBACCO THAN THREE YEARS AGO. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE STATISTICS, BUT WE HAVE A PRETTY ACTIVE PROGRAM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTERS. THEY JUST HIRED A NEW ADMINISTRATOR TO DEAL WITH THAT. SHE'S FROM COLORADO WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS. SO I REALLY THINK WE'RE FARING FAIRLY WELL THERE IN REDUCING THE TOBACCO USE. Yepsen: WHAT DO YOU NEED -- WHAT DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT NEED? WE'RE IN A WAR HERE AGAINST METHAMPHETAMINE. WE TALK ABOUT GETTING PSEUDOEPHEDRINE OFF THE SHELVES SO IT'S NOT SO READILY AVAILABLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIVES TO AMMONIA. WHAT ELSE DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT NEED? WHAT OTHER TOOLS DO YOU NEED? Van Haaften: YOU KNOW, DAVID, THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ROLLED THE BURN GRANTS AND BLOCK GRANTS INTO ONE SINGLE GRANT PROGRAM CALLED JAG. WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY CHANGED THE FORMULA FROM ONE BEING BASED ON POPULATION TO ONE BEING BASED ON VIOLENT CRIME 50 PERCENT AND THEN 50 PERCENT POPULATION. JULY 1 THAT WILL AMOUNT TO A $2.4-MILLION REDUCTION TO OUR DRUG TASK FORCES IN IOWA. WE ARE HAVING KIND OF AN EMERGENCY ICN SESSION NEXT THURSDAY, GETTING EVERYONE IN IOWA, LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE PAGE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT? ARE WE JUST -- Yepsen: EXCUSE ME, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE TO REPLACE LOST FEDERAL MONEY; IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? Van Haaften: THAT'S NOT GOING TO COME SO WE HAVE TO BE WISE IN WHAT WE DO. I THINK TO ANSWER YOU, WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS: WE NEED A 50-PERCENT REDUCTION IN METH LABS; WE NEED THE OKLAHOMA EXPERIENCE AND SCHEDULE 5 NOW MORE THAN EVER. Borg: WHAT IS THAT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THERE, THE OKLAHOMA EXPERIENCE? ARE YOU TRYING TO TRANSFER SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN OKLAHOMA INTO IOWA? Van Haaften: THAT'S CORRECT. OKLAHOMA, WHEN THEY PASSED SCHEDULE 5 AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT INTO LAW LAST APRIL, THEY HAD AN IMMEDIATE 50-PERCENT REDUCTION IN THEIR METH LABS. THAT IS PERHAPS AS HIGH AS 67 PERCENT TODAY. IF WE NEED TO CUT OUR DRUG TASK FORCES 47 TO 50 PERCENT, WE NEED TO CUT DOWN THE METH LABS WHICH ARE USING UP ALL OF OUR OFFICERS' TIME. SO REALLY WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS, IN '05, NEEDS MORE THAN EVER IS SCHEDULE 5 BECAUSE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO BE REDUCED. THE MONEY IS NOT THERE. Yepsen: EXCUSE ME, WHEN YOU SAY SCHEDULE 5, THAT'S JARGON FOR TAKING PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, TURNING IT INTO ESSENTIALLY AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE, WHICH IS CALLED SCHEDULE 5, AND PUTTING IT BEHIND THE PHARMACY COUNTER. IS THAT A GOOD WAY TO SAY THAT? Van Haaften: THAT'S CORRECT. WE'VE DONE THAT TWICE IN IOWA BEFORE WITH TREMENDOUS RESULTS. CODEINE COUGH SYRUP WAS MADE A SCHEDULE 5. CODEINE ADDICTION, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY. WE TOOK EPHEDRINE OFF THE SHELVES. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW MAKING EPHEDRINE, WHICH TRUCKERS USED TO USE AND SO -- I THINK ATHLETES WERE DYING FROM ITS USE. IT BECAME A SCHEDULE 5. WE ONLY HAD SEVEN METH LABS IN IOWA LAST YEAR THAT USED EPHEDRINE, SO SCHEDULE 5 WORKS. I AM PROPOSING THAT PSEUDOEPHEDRINE BE JUST LIKE EPHEDRINE AND CODEINE. Borg: WHY DON'T I GO TO WASHINGTON D.C., THOUGH, AND THEN BRING BACK A WHOLE BOXFUL OF WHAT I NEED? DOESN'T THIS HAVE TO BE A FEDERAL LAW? Van Haaften: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY -- SINCE SOME OF THE EAST COAST STATES, MAINE, IN THAT REGION, HAVE NOT HAD THEIR FIRST METH LAB YET, THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY IS NOT GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR A NATIONAL LAW. THEY'RE LEAVING IT UP TO STATES' DISCRETION, SO I'VE EXPLORED THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROMOTING THIS ONE IN IOWA. Glover: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE IN YOUR BUSINESS OFTEN TALK ABOUT IS TREATMENT. I'D LIKE YOU TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CRITICISMS I HEAR OF DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY FOR METHAMPHETAMINE. PEOPLE TELL ME IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL. RECIDIVISM IS VERY HIGH. WHY WASTE MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL? Van Haaften: THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT, MIKE. THE IOWA CONSORTIUM FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE EVALUATION AND RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITAL JUST FINISHED AN EVALUATION OF DRUG TREATMENT. ASTOUNDING RESULTS. WE HAVE GOTTEN MUCH WISER. IOWA IS A STATE OF VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE. WITH METH ADDICTION, WE'VE LENGTHENED THE TREATMENT. WE'RE LOOKING AT DUAL DIAGNOSIS, TREATING MENTAL AS WELL AS THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION. AND WHAT STEVE AHRENDT, ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS THERE, FOUND OUT IS ACTUALLY WE'RE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING METH ADDICTS THAN WE ARE IN ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA ADDICTS. IN FACT, THE ABSTINENCE RATE SIX MONTHS AFTER METH TREATMENT FOR A METH ADDICT IS 65.5 PERCENT ARE STILL ABSTINENT. ALCOHOL ACTUALLY DROPS DOWN TO ABOUT 45 PERCENT, AND MARIJUANA IS SOMEWHERE IN THAT 55-PERCENT RATE. SO OUR VERY NEWEST MOST SUCCESSFUL METH TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OUR ALCOHOL AND OUR MARIJUANA TREATMENT, AND THAT'S GREAT NEWS. Yepsen: WHAT CAN -- WHAT SHOULD OTHER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY BE DOING TO ATTACK THIS METHAMPHETAMINE PROBLEM? WE'VE TALKED HERE ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO DO. WHAT SHOULD RETAILERS DO? WHAT SHOULD FARMERS DO? WRITE US SOME PRESCRIPTIONS HERE FOR WHAT THE REST OF US IN SOCIETY CAN BE DOING TO STOP THIS METHAMPHETAMINE PROBLEM. Van Haaften: ALL OF US CAN BE ENGAGED. I LIKE YOUR QUESTION. PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, ALL OF US NEED TALK TO OUR YOUTH, BE MENTORS TO OUR YOUTH. WE KNOW MENTORING WORKS. KIDS IN TROUBLE NEED MENTORS. THEY LOOK UP TO MENTORS. THEY LOOK UP TO ADULTS. OUR CHURCH I THINK NOW HAS 30 MENTORS WORKING WITH TROUBLED YOUTH IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE ALL HAVE A ROLE THERE. THAT'S SUCCESSFUL. YOU MENTIONED RETAILERS. WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM CALLED METH WATCH THAT THE IOWA RETAIL ASSOCIATION IS PROMOTING. THEY GOT A FEDERAL GRANT. THEY WERE JUST GIVEN A SMALL FEDERAL GRANT AGAIN. THAT EDUCATES CLERKS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO LOOK FOR PEOPLE BUYING THE PRECURSORS, FILL OUT A SHEET, AND THEN TURN THAT INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S TOO NEW TO EVALUATE. I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN FOUR CALLS ON IT ALREADY ON THE METH HOTLINE THAT THE DIVISION OF NARCOTICS HAS. WHEN IT COMES TO FARMERS, THEY JUST NEED TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING ON ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. DON'T LEAVE THAT TANK RIGHT THERE ALONG A TRAVELED HIGHWAY FOR METH COOKS TO STEAL THE ANHYDROUS FROM. Yepsen: ARE FARMER STILL DOING THIS? I MEAN WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ANHYDROUS AND METHAMPHETAMINE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. I CAN'T BELIEVE A FARMER IS STILL OUT THERE LEAVING THE STUFF UNLOCKED OR READILY AVAILABLE. Van Haaften: YEAH, IT MOVES SO FAST, AND I JUST PUT ON FIVE OF THE BIG NURSE TANKS MYSELF. I HAVE A FARM NORTH OF PELLA. DURING THE SEASON ALL OF THOSE TANKS ARE UNLOCKED. THE CO-OPS, THE 26 COUNTIES IN IOWA ARE ALL THAT WE HAVE LOCKED UP. I JUST GOT A $300,000 GRANT TO LOCK UP MORE NURSE TANKS. THAT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL. BUT IN SEASON THOSE TANKS ARE ALL UNLOCKED. FARMERS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND CO-OPS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THOSE TANKS. SO THEY CAN BE RESPONSIBLE. CO-OPS CAN FENCE, CAN PUT UP LIGHTING, KEEP THEIR TANKS LOCKED MAYBE MORE THAN THEY DO. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO PROVIDE MORE AND MORE LOCKS THROUGH FEDERAL MONEYS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. Glover: TALK TO THOSE IN OUR AUDIENCE WHO ARE PARENTS. YOU SAY THAT PARENTS SHOULD TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN. BUT LET'S SAY I'M A PARENT, I HAVE A COUPLE OF KIDS THAT ARE LATE TEENAGERS MAYBE IN COLLEGE. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR AND WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I SEE IT? Van Haaften: ONE OF THE KEY THINGS -- AND I'M THANKFUL FOR MY EXPERIENCE AS SHERIFF. WHEN ONE IS ON METH, TWO THINGS HAPPEN. ONE, YOUR APPETITE IS SUPPRESSED. SO SUDDENLY KIDS -- ADULTS - I HAD A HUSBAND COME TO ME. HIS WIFE HADN'T EATEN AND SHE WAS IN THE BASEMENT SEWING FOR THREE NIGHTS, NEVER SLEPT. THE MINUTE A CHILD IS NOT EATING, NOT HAVING AN APPETITE, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR A TEENAGER, OR WHEN THE CHILD IS NOT SLEEPING, LISTENING TO MUSIC, AWAKE ALL NIGHT IN THEIR ROOM, THOSE TWO KEY THINGS ARE WHAT PARENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR. I COULD GO INTO MORE BUT THOSE ARE TWO KEY THINGS. AND ONCE THAT OCCURS, THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM. Yepsen: WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? Van Haaften: THERE IS A HOTLINE. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CALL IMMEDIATELY. IT'S UP IN CEDAR RAPIDS. I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER. I DON'T HAVE IT CONVERTED TO MEMORY. THEY GET A LOT OF CALLS. THAT TELLS YOU WHAT TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR PART OF THE STATE WHERE YOU'RE CALLING FROM. AND THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY WORK WITH THEIR FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND WITH THEIR CHILD AND WITH PROFESSIONALS TO TURN THAT ADDICTION AROUND AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THE SOONER THE BETTER. Yepsen: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOCIETY IS LOSING THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS. WHY SHOULD WE NOT START TO DECRIMINALIZE THIS STUFF? JUST SAY, "I'M SORRY, MR. VAN HAAFTEN, YOU'VE LOST. THIS STUFF IS PART OF OUR SOCIETY. RATHER THAN MAKE IT A CRIME, WE SHOULD REGULATE IT, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AND AT DRUG STORES AND PHARMACIES AND JUST TAKE THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT OUT OF THAT." WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? Van Haaften: WHAT I SAY TO THAT IS WE HAVE ONE LEGAL DRUG THAT'S STILL THE NUMBER ONE DRUG IN IOWA. THAT'S ALCOHOL. WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TREATING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL. Yepsen: RIGHT. WE TRIED PROHIBITION. IT DIDN'T WORK. WE HAD TO WIND UP CHANGING THAT. WHY DON'T WE JUST LIFT THE PROHIBITION ON METHAMPHETAMINE? IF SOMEBODY IS STUPID ENOUGH TO WANT TO USE THAT STUFF, WHY SHOULDN'T THAT BE THEIR BUSINESS? Van Haaften: IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE WILL HAVE NO WORKERS, NO WORK FORCE TO REALLY DRAW FROM, BECAUSE ONCE IT CONSUMES SOMEONE, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOBS. SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR METHAMPHETAMINE THAT ARE IN JAIL ARE TRYING TO HOLD DOWN JOBS. WE JUST DESTROY OUR SOCIETY. IT IS SO DESTRUCTIVE TO RELATIONSHIPS, BE THAT IN SCHOOL, BE THAT IN THE FACTORY. WE HAVE A GREAT NEW WORKPLACE -- DRUG IN THE WORKPLACE TREATMENT PROGRAM. ACTUALLY, IT CAN BE USED BY CORPORATIONS TO TEACH WORKERS, TO TEACH SUPERVISORS HOW TO RECOGNIZE DRUGS IN THE WORKPLACE. BUT YOU GET MORE LIKE THE ONE COMPANY I TALKED ABOUT, WORKERS USING DRUGS THERE ACTUALLY LOSING THEIR FINGERS BECAUSE OF SHEET METAL PRESSES. AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO GO THERE. WE WANT IOWA TO BE A GOOD, SOLID, WHOLESOME STATE OF EDUCATED PEOPLE, NOT A STATE OF DRUG ADDICTS. Glover: LET'S DEAL WITH THE ROLE THAT BUSINESSES CAN PLAY IN THIS WHOLE THING. IF PARENTS NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE DOING, DO BUSINESSES NEED TO WATCH OUT WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING? HOW DO WE DRAW A LINE BETWEEN THE PRIVACY OF A WORKER AND THE RIGHT OF A BUSINESS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR WORK FORCE? Van Haaften: THOSE ARE DIFFICULT LINES AND WE HAVE SPENT I THINK THREE TO FOUR YEARS DEVELOPING THE DRUG IN THE WORKPLACE CURRICULUM. IT WAS DONE BY "FACE IT TOGETHER," ONE OF SENATOR GRASSLEY'S GROUP. IT'S AN EXCELLENT BOOKLET. OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT IT. THE NATION IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT. THAT BOOKLET GOES INTO A LOT OF WHAT THE LAW IS, WHAT DRUG TESTING CAN BE DONE, WHAT CAN'T BE DONE, WHAT WORKERS' RIGHTS ARE. IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE. BUT WORKERS CAN PLAY A ROLE. EMPLOYERS CAN CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE. SOME EMPLOYERS IN IOWA ARE ACTUALLY USING THEIR EMPLOYEES IN A MENTORING PROGRAM TO MENTOR TO TROUBLED YOUTH, ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE FAILING IN SCHOOL, DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL. AND I KNOW IN SOME BUSINESSES, PERHAPS 20 PERCENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO MENTOR TROUBLED YOUTH. THAT'S POWERFUL. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE IN FACTORIES AND BUSINESSES AND SO DOING THAT, THAT'S POWERFUL. Glover: BUT DOESN'T THE WORKER WHO WALKS INTO A WORKPLACE HAVE SOME EXPECTATIONS OF PRIVACY, WHAT I DO IN MY OWN TIME IS MY OWN BUSINESS? Van Haaften: THEY DO BUT A WORKER THAT COMES TO WORK COMMITTING AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, BE THAT THEFT, BE THAT AN ASSAULT OR ALL OF THE COMMON CRIMES, IF THAT WORKER SUDDENLY STARTS USING DRUGS, WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE WORKPLACE, YOU LOSE SOME EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY THERE. PROBABLE CAUSE IS REQUIRED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PLAY ROLES THERE, BUT WORKPLACES DO HAVE TO BE KEEN TO WHAT GOES ON. Borg: YOU ALLUDED TO A PHONE NUMBER EARLIER. WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO GET THAT NUMBER? Van Haaften: IT'S THE CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY. THAT'S THE REPOSITORY OF ALL OF OUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE INFORMATION IN IOWA, SO ACTUALLY YOU'RE CALLING THE CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT'S AN 800 NUMBER. I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE IT CONVERTED TO MEMORY, OR I COULD TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. Borg: BUT THERE IS A HOTLINE THAT WE CAN ACCESS THROUGH THAT. Van Haaften: THAT IS CORRECT. Borg: THANK YOU, MR. VAN HAAFTEN. Van Haaften: THANK YOU. Borg: ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE FOCUS ON IN-PARTY POLITICS AND ON THE FUTURE OF THE IOWA CAUCUS AND ITS STATUS AS THE FIRST-IN-THE-NATION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION PROCESS. JOINING US NEXT WEEK, TWO WELL-KNOWN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVISTS WHO ARE CLOSE TO THAT PROCESS, ATTORNEYS JERRY CRAWFORD AND ROXANNE CONLIN, HERE TO SPOTLIGHT THE IOWA CAUCUS POST-ELECTION STRATEGIES, NATIONAL AND LOCAL, FOR THAT PARTY. THAT'S NEXT WEEKEND, REGULAR TIMES, 7:30 FRIDAY, SUNDAY AT NOON. I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. FUNDING THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. |
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