Oregon prosecutor talks about meth results

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Vigo County officials want to step the fight up against meth by making some cold medicines available only by prescription.

But would it work?

An Oregon prosecutor told Indiana lawmakers it would.

"There are many reasons for why Oregon has had the largest crime rate decrease in our nation for two years running," Robert Bovett a district attorney from Oregon said.

One of those reasons, he says is that pseudoephedrine products in Oregon are only for sale with a prescription.

"You don't have the burglaries or robberies to support their habit, they aren't tweaking out to beat their spouse or child," Bovett said.

Bovett testified to Indiana lawmakers Wednesday about Oregon's experience with the law.

The first U.S. state to pass such a law.

"You can only deal with so many drug endangered children being pulled out of meth lab homes where they're poisoned, they catch fire, they blow up," Bovett said.

Bovett said the real issue is getting meth labs out of the communities.

In Oregon, it's worked

"We've had six meth labs throughout Oregon so far in 2010," Bovett said.

But will Indiana pass such a law?

Healthcare and consumer advocates argue it's costly for families and those who need it.

Hoosier law enforcement argued it's already costing you.

In the past six years it's cost Hoosier taxpayers $7.2 million to cover an average 30 day jail stay for meth inmates.

"Oregon's no longer part of the problem," Bovett said.

In the meantime lawmakers will decide the best way to fix the problem in Indiana.

Now, many of our viewers sounded off on our WTHI Facebook page, many saying it's unfair to be forced to pay for a doctor's visit to get a prescription for the cold medicine.

One viewer said for those who don't have insurance it could be very costly.

Do you think it's worth getting a prescription from a doctor to buy pseudoephedrine products?