KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 3, 2002
Contact: TJ Ciaffone, 785-368-7301
Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Meth Watch Program, in partnership with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), is helping to reduce the theft of ephedrine related products often used to make methamphetamine (meth). A large retailer in Kansas has supplied KDHE with data showing a 90% drop in theft losses for products containing ephedrine. Meth Watch is a private-public partnership formed in July 2001 to reduce the clandestine production of meth. It focuses on creating an awareness among retailers of why certain products are stolen or purchased in abnormally high quantities
The KDHE and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) have taken the initiative to reduce production of methamphetamine in the state by providing training to retail managers and employees. The Meth Watch program has produced a training video that provides managers and employees information about meth, the precursor drugs needed to manufacturer meth, what the employee can do to help in identifying the buyers of the precursor materials, what the store can do to limit the availability of the precursor chemicals, and how the retailer can work with their local law enforcement to reduce meth activity. The combined activities of the KDHE, KBI and the Kansas retailers can make an impact on how easy it is for meth cooks to steal the products they need for their clandestine drug lab operations.
KDHE wants Kansans to be safe and their environment to be clean, but those goals are put at risk by the continued increased production of methamphetamine in the state. Law enforcement officials have been working in cooperation with KDHE to curtail this problem. Private businesses have continued their efforts in the Kansas Retailer Meth Watch Program to limit the sale of precursor drugs, chemicals and materials to clandestine meth cooks, and work with their local law enforcement agencies.
KDHE would like to thank the Kansas Retailer Meth Watch Team; including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and representatives from Albertsons, Dillons, Food4Less, Fleming Foods, Green Lantern Stores, IGA, Kansas Retail Council, Kmart, Osco, Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas, Phillips 66, Prevention and Recovery Services of Shawnee County, SafeStreets, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart for assisting in developing the Kansas Retailer Meth Watch Program.
Additional details of the Kansas Meth Watch initiative, a summary of the meth problem in Kansas and examples of the materials KDHE will use to bring this important, life-saving message to retail outlets across the state are available from KDHE or from the KDHE Meth Watch Web site, www.kdheks.gov/methlabs/ .
