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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Heineman announced that law enforcement agencies across Nebraska have seen a more than 80 percent decline in the number of domestic methamphetamine labs in the first year since the state’s anti-meth bill became law.
The Governor joined with Attorney General Jon Bruning and the Nebraska State Patrol in developing LB 117 for the 2005 legislative session. Sen. Patrick Bourne of Omaha, Chairman of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, sponsored the bill.
“Meth is a drug that attacks the stability of our families, and has been shown to be addictive from the first time a person tries it,” Gov. Heineman said. “Two years ago, our state was under siege from domestic meth labs. Faced with the growing threat and the problems fostered by meth addiction, we knew we needed to take action. These numbers show that LB 117 was an effective way to stop the growth of meth labs, and we can only hope this trend continues as the federal anti-meth law is implemented.”
The State Patrol receives data from Nebraska law enforcement agencies on the number of reported domestic meth labs. Since LB 117 took effect on Sept. 4, 2005, there have been 53 reported domestic meth labs in the state, down from 322 reported labs during the same timeframe in 2004 to 2005.
The State Patrol received 258 reports of domestic meth labs between Sept. 4, 2003, and Sept. 4, 2004. From 2002 to 2003 there were 304 reported labs. The highest number on record in the last five years was in 2001 to 2002 when 343 labs were reported.
Col. Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said, “Our investigators and troopers are clearly seeing a difference. Because of LB 117, law enforcement agencies now have the opportunity to concentrate on the dealers importing meth to our state.”
LB 117 required pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines to be placed behind store counters, in addition to limiting the amount a person can buy in a given day and requiring purchasers to show valid identification. The bill also strengthened criminal penalties for meth dealers and manufacturers.
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