- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Serial:
- Press release.
- Title:
- Press release [Aug. 27, 2004]
- Creator:
- Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Contributor to Resource:
- Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Date of Original:
- 2004-08-27
- Subject:
- Georgia
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- publications (documents)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Open access; Unrestricted online access star GAGAL
July 29, 2002B; title from Georgia Government Publications citation, viewed September 19, 2007. - External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA L412 .P1 P7 2004/8-27
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl412-b-pp1-bp7-b2004-s8-h27-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl412-b-pp1-bp7-b2004-s8-h27-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
House Information Office Room 505, Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 1-800-282-5800 404-656-5082
8-2076-5234 For Immediate Release
August 27, 2004
Hearings Continue on how to Combat Methamphetamine Problem
Atlanta Representative Barbara Massey Reece (D-Menlo) convened a second meeting of The House Protection from the Dangers of Methamphetamine Manufacture Study Committee. The meeting was held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center on Wednesday, August 25, 2004. The committee heard testimony from members of various state and local law enforcement agencies. They also heard from representatives of rehabilitative services organizations as well as citizens concerned over the methamphetamine manufacturing epidemic, which a January 2004 National Conference of State Legislatures report calls "...the fastest growing drug threat in America."
"The dangers from this drug are tenfold," said Rep. Reece, who is leading the study committee. "Not only is it dangerous to the people who use and manufacture it, but even after the site has been shut down the chemical residue and toxins involved can be a very real danger to law enforcement officials cleaning the site."
"Also, because many of these meth labs are set up in rental properties, these chemicals, if not properly decontaminated, can pose a very real danger to the next inhabitants."
The committee's focus is to study relevant issues relating to clandestine methamphetamine manufacture. The group is studying the residual effects of exposure to toxic fumes generated by methamphetamine manufacture, particularly with regard to children. They also hope to identify and implement an effective statewide protocol for scouring the site of a former methamphetamine laboratory in order to ensure that it is safe for human occupancy. Finally, the committee hopes to raise awareness among members of the public of the dangers posed by both current and former methamphetamine laboratories.
"We are gathering some very valuable information which will help us formulate a legislative plan to deal with these problems," Reece continued. "We're also raising awareness, which is a great help."
"For example, since the June 20th meeting, in northwest Georgia we have had two community task forces have formed in Chattooga and Catoosa counties."
Rep. Reece, a lawmaker since 1998, is Vice Chair of the Education Committee and serves on the State Institutions and Property and Economic Development and Tourism committees.
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For further information contact Rep. Reece at 404-656-0305.