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bou 20 PACE 51.14 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, methamphetamine or "meth" is a highly addictive and destructive drug that has reached epidemic proportions across North Carolina and the rest of the United States in rural, suburban and urban counties; and WHEREAS, meth can be easily manufactured in almost any setting from common household chemicals. such as cold medicine; and WHEREAS, meth use has a wide range of consequences, including contamination of the environment, violent and reckless behavior by the users, and jeopardizing the well being of children and the entire community where it is found; and WHEREAS, prevention and education are critically important to combating meth use; and WHEREAS, alarming rates of children are found at meth labs where they are living in deplorable conditions and are vulnerable to neglect and abuse; and WHEREAS, methamphetamine abuse leads to many health problems for users and those around them. Long-term health risks associated with meth use include tooth decay, depression, pulmonary and neurological challenges. Children who are exposed to these hazardous chemicals during production and use may also develop neurological and pulmonary diseases, which will lead to learning disabilities; and WHEREAS, for each pound of methamphetamine that is produced, five to seven pounds of toxic waste is also produced. This waste is often introduced into the environment through septic systems, streams, and groundwater; and WHEREAS, treatment for methamphetamine addiction has been found to be effective when the user is willing to accept it and where it is available; and WHEREAS, research has shown an additive to anhydrous ammonia is effective at reducing the production value of meth, while still being useful as a fertilizer for production of agriculture products; and WHEREAS, there is currently no remediation guidelines for individuals and local governments to follow to cleanup a farmer meth lab; and WHEREAS, a comprehensive solution strategy is needed to fight meth to include law enforcement, treatment, education, prevention, research, cleanup, child protective services, and predecessor control and WHEREAS, several bills have been introduced in Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly to combat the methamphetamine plague.