Number of Meth Labs In Oregon Reducing

Over the past two years, the number of meth labs in the state of Oregon reflect a 79% reduction. Since October of 2004, new rules have gone into effect that have slowed the sale of pseudoephedrine (a typically over-the-counter drug commonly used in the production of methamphetamines) which may have had the effect lawmakers were hoping to see.

On the 15th of October in 2004, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy adopted a rule requiring PSE products (pseudoephederine) other than certain liquids and gel caps, be kept behind the counter. This ruling would also require that purchasers present a picture ID for the sale of the PSE products. The rule went into effect on May 14, 2005. By April 5, 2006 there was another ruling that a prescription is required for all PSE products, which went into effect on July 1, 2006.

During the period of November 2004 to May 2005, there were a total of 168 meth labs, an average of 24 per month, as compared with the year earlier in which there were a total of 284 meth labs, an average of 41 per month. In other words, a 41% reduction for the first seven months that the rule was in place. For the first year that the second ruling was in place there was a 79% reduction, with the number of meth labs dropping to an average of 8 per month.