Upcoming Events

Open Modal

Senators Ernst And Grassley Say We Can’t Let Opioid Addiction Detract From Ongoing Methamphetamine Problems

Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley are urging that the Department of Homeland Security and the office of National Drug Control Policy not ignore the surge in methamphetamine traffic coming across the Mexican border as the nation battles an opioid epidemic. “While methamphetamine use has ravaged communities in Iowa, it has seemingly fallen by the wayside in light of unprecedented effects of the opioid epidemic,” the senators wrote. “With nearly 47,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2017, we are truly facing an epidemic. However, our nation is grappling with a poly-drug problem, and as such, we cannot allow one devastating issue to preclude us from addressing another.” The pair is asking for proactive measures to ensure that methamphetamine abuse does not rise to endemic levels as well. National laws have significantly reduced production of meth, but Mexican drug cartels have filled the void with cheaper, more highly-potent methamphetamine that is smuggled over the border. Recent data shows that meth abuse is particularly widespread in Iowa, labeled the most commonly abused drug in the state. This also results in a rise in other drug-associated crimes.

Recommended Posts

Loading...