WASHINGTON — Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, helped kick off a national effort Tuesday to train retail stores to better control common products — from cold medicines to lithium batteries — that criminals use to manufacture the illegal street drug methamphetamine.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced its new "Meth Watch" Program at the National Press Club. It will train stores to cut theft or misuse of precursor products by limiting the number of packages per purchase, limiting how many are on shelves and placing them in areas with video surveillance.

Cannon, co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, hailed the effort saying, "Methamphetamine is one of our nation's fastest growing drug threats. Unfortunately, Utah is not immune to this menace. In fact, Utah is ranked among the top 10 states for meth labs and has ranked No. 1 for speed cookeries per capita."

He noted Utah is among the states whose leaders have agreed to participate in the new program and said it "is an opportunity to demonstrate that local involvement and commitment is the difference between prevention and abuse."

CHPA President Linda A. Suydam said small meth labs "are toxic, explosive and devastating to communities across the country — requiring hazardous waste cleanup, threatening the health of children living in homes where meth is cooked, and endangering the safety of neighbors unlucky enough to live near such a lab."

She said the labs turn legitimate, household products into illegal, addictive drugs.

"With recipes swarming the Internet, anyone can find a meth recipe these days using ingredients available in most retail outlets," she said. "Products like over-the-counter cold medicines, rubbing alcohol, iodine, batteries . . . are just a few of the ingredients."

She said Kansas achieved a dramatic reduction in the number of meth labs there by having stores limit the number of packages of such products people could buy; placing them at spots such as checkout stands where employees can better watch them; and by placing stickers and posters warning that "Meth Watch" is being conducted.

Also, retailers notify police immediately when suspicious people attempt to buy precursor products.

The organization — representing manufacturers of over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements — is offering training to states interested in implementing the program and is making available $1 million in seed money to help them.

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., the other co-chairman of the congressional meth caucus, said, "This is a problem that cannot be solved by the government alone. It will take the combined effort of law enforcement, retailers, industry and others to bring an end to the meth epidemic."

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