TITLE
Recommendation to request that the Public Safety Advisory Commission report to the Public Safety Committee in 60 days with their recommendations on how the City can fight the increasing problem of meth-amphetamine use in Long Beach and related crime.
DISCUSSION
The scourge of methamphetamine use, or Crystal Meth, is a growing problem
nationally and here in Long Beach. Meth is cheap, easy to make, widely
available and has up to a 12 hour long high. These characteristics have
skyrocketed meth use and have made it accessible and attractive to younger and
younger generations. The children of these meth addicts are the real victims.
They live in squalor, watch their parents shoot drugs and are exposed to a
variety of chemicals at meth labs set up in their homes.
Home-based labs are easily constructed and the ingredients to produce
methamphetamine are purchased at any supermarket or comer store. Over-the-
counter cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and other
materials are "cooked" in meth labs to make methamphetamine. Other everyday
ingredients used in making meth include drain cleaner, battery acid, and
antifreeze.
The Public Safety Advisory Commission ("PSAC") was created to make advisory
policy recommendations to the City Council on public safety issues. We request
that within their report to Council that PSAC address the following:
Feasibility of restricting over the counter sale of drugs containing
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine;
Effectiveness of programs in Long Beach and in other communities across
the nation to combat meth use;
How the increase in meth use is being addressed by our criminal justice
system within the context of Proposition 36; and
Measures that the Police Department can implement to address meth use
and related crimes.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,...
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