STATE WANTS TO FOCUS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

DES MOINES -- The Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy released its
2006 agenda Wednesday, a report that calls for better access to
substance-abuse treatment and a greater emphasis on spotting people
who abuse prescription drugs.

Marvin Van Haaften, director of the office, praises lawmakers for
approving a bill this year intended to curb methamphetamine
production within the state's borders. But he said there are many
other priorities that still need attention.

"The drug problem is more than meth labs," he said in a statement.
Van Haaften listed four areas that will get attention next year: --
There will be a push for Legislature to approve an electronic system
that tracks sales of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs
used as meth ingredients. Information from the system would be used
to refer patients to drug treatment or a pain-management specialist.

- -- The office will look for ways to expand the availability of
substance-abuse treatment to people convicted of drug-related crimes.

- -- There will be a greater emphasis on protecting children who live
in households made unsafe by substance abuse.

- -- The office will try to better publicize the need for parents and
other caregivers to prevent substance abuse by young people.

Van Haaften also reports that alcohol continues to be Iowans' drug of
choice. He points to statistics that show increases this year in
alcohol sales, drunken driving convictions and admissions to
treatment for alcohol abuse.

Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, co-chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, said he hasn't yet had the chance to review the report,
but expects his committee to deal with a wide variety of substance
abuse issues.

This is a departure from last year, when much of the focus was on the
meth bill. Kreiman laments that there isn't a better way to address
drug problems before they become full-blown threats to public safety.

"As these drug dealers and users go from one thing to the other,
we're kind of reactionary, because we can't imagine what they'll do
next," he said.

One of the leading backers of the meth bill, Rep. Clel Baudler,
R-Greenfield, said last month that he hopes the Legislature will do
more next year to combat the flow of meth into the state. Roughly 80
percent of the meth consumed in Iowa is imported.