The Senate is targeting pharmacies and consumers around the nation by limiting the distribution of pseudo ephedrine, a major ingredient of cough medicine that is used to make methamphetamine. Consumers would have to show photo ID, sign a log and receive no more than 7.5 grams per month according to Congress.

Other provisions of the bill include $25 million to help local prosecution, $13 million for meth treatment and research and $5 million to help children who have been harmed by the effects of meth use.

The idea for federal legislation came after Oklahoma passed a law that restricted the sale of pseudo ephedrine. After the law was passed, the state saw an immediate decrease in the number of meth labs. It was reported that some counties saw a 50 percent decrease in the number of labs.

Following in Oklahoma’s footsteps, 37 states have adopted similar legislation. The laws for each state vary from requiring a prescription to merely limiting the amount of cold medicine that a consumer can purchase.

Meth producers have exploited these differences by crossing state lines and stockpiling chemicals used in the creation of meth. This has undermined anti-meth efforts in states such as Oklahoma and Oregon which have more severe restrictions on pseudo ephedrine.

One organization spearheading the assault on meth is the Drug Enforcement Administration. They reported a dramatic increase in meth labs over the past decade, shutting down 9,797 labs last year, as compared to 162 in 1995.

The DEA also provides training for state and local task forces to identify and shut down clandestine labs.

“Methamphetamine is not only physically devastating, but is a danger to children,” said Kevin Wilson, former resident agent in charge of McAllister, Okla. “Children are subject to contamination, neglect and the danger of explosion in the lab.”

Agent Wilson is scheduled to return to Oklahoma on Oct. 17 to testify for the murder of Rocky Eales, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper who was killed in 1999 during a raid on a meth lab. He left behind a wife and two children.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant with similar effects to cocaine but lasts longer and remains in the central nervous system for a prolonged period, according to the DEA. Violent behavior and schizophrenia are traits of chronic users.

Even Rexburg has been struck by this meth epidemic.

“Meth cases are a daily occurrence for us,” said Captain Randy Lewis of the Rexburg Police Department.

“Because it’s so easy to get and to make, we find that meth is used as much as marijuana.”

In regard to BYU-Idaho students, Lewis said, “It’s rare that we see students involved in drug use. They just stay away from that kind of stuff.”