STATEHOUSE (Jan. 12, 2018) – State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) and State Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) recently announced Senate Enrolled Act 80, which made it more difficult for people to purchase large amounts of pseudoephedrine, a decongestant and key ingredient used in manufacturing meth, has been a success.
Since SEA 80 went into effect in March 2016, the number of meth lab seizures in Indiana have declined dramatically. According to data released by the Indiana State Police, 328 meth lab busts occurred between January and September in 2017, a more than 59 percent drop from the 806 incidents that occurred during the same period in 2016. In addition, the number of children removed from meth lab environments went down nearly 67 percent from 129 to 43 cases.
“During the 2016 legislative session, I authored SEA 80 because the growing number of meth labs in our state was out of hand, putting innocent people in harm’s way,” Head said. “In a little over a year, we were able to see the positive results of this law. A more than 59 percent drop in meth lab seizures is phenomenal, and I am eager to see the rate continue to decline overtime.”
When meth is manufactured, it can leave a chemical residue on walls, ceilings, floors, doors, cabinets and furniture, and exposure to the residue can cause health issues, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
Smaltz, a sponsor of the bill, echoed Head’s remarks.
“The results speak for themselves. This is an example of Indiana’s legislature and law enforcement working together to eradicate the scourge of methamphetamine in our communities,” Smaltz said. “Children are often collateral damage in these situations, and the drop in those cases is significant. These successes are compelling, but as lawmakers, we must not rest on those results. Now is the time to turn our attention to the opioid epidemic and the havoc it’s wreaking on our Indiana families.”
For more information on SEA 80, click here.
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A high resolution photo of Head can be found here.
