Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 110th Congress Page: 1 of 6
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Order Code RS22325
Updated October 23, 2008
~. CRS Report for Congress
Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues
in the 110th Congress
Celinda Franco
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
Illicit methamphetamine (MA) production and use are longstanding and severe
problems in some states. In recent years, concerns were raised that this drug problem
was spreading nationwide, and MA issues became an important federal concern. During
the 110th Congress, legislation was introduced on a broad range of issues related to MA
abuse, illicit manufacture, treatment, and drug trafficking offenses. For example, S.
1276, the Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-415), further
specified the procedures retailers must follow for tracking the retail purchases of over-
the-counter (OTC) medications containing MA precursor chemicals. H.R. 1199, the
Drug-Endangered Children Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-345), extended the authority of the
Drug-Endangered Children grant program through FY2009. Some of the MA legislation
would have built on provisions enacted in the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act
(CMEA, P.L. 109-177), which were designed to control and limit the availability of MA
and its precursor chemicals. MA abuse has implications for public health, child welfare,
crime and public safety, and international relations. This report provides a brief
overview of MA abuse, its illicit domestic manufacture, federal responses, and anti-MA
legislation introduced in the 110th Congress. This report has been updated to reflect
legislative activity.
Background
Methamphetamine (MA), a drug of the amphetamine group, is a powerful and
addictive central nervous system stimulant. Originally used as a nasal decongestant and
bronchiodialator, MA has been marketed under the trade names Methedrine and
Desoxyn since the 1940s. MA is currently used to treat a limited number of medical
conditions, including narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADD/ADHD), and obesity. MA can be administered orally, nasally, by
injection, and, in the powder form that resembles granulated crystals, often referred to as
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Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 110th Congress, report, October 23, 2008; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811019/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.