Methamphetamine Clearinghouse
Chapter 394 of the New York State Law went into effect on November 1, 2005, and has made sweeping changes regarding New York State’s ability to combat the production and use of methamphetamines.
- Included in this new law are criminal penalties for possessing manufacturing and precursor materials such as cold tablets, camping fuel, and lithium batteries.
- It is now a separate serious criminal offense to produce methamphetamines in a residence where children live.
- The law identifies OASAS as the principle source of information for the statewide dissemination of information on methamphetamines.
Target audiences for OASAS include: the employers of mandated reporters (who must report suspected laboratory activity if children live on the premises), emergency services personnel, child protective services, social services, chemical dependence prevention and treatment providers, school personnel, health care providers, and other interested entities and individuals.
In order to fulfill these responsibilities OASAS is employing a three pronged approach:
- The OASAS Electronic Methamphetamine Clearinghouse This is a one stop, user friendly website that catalogues and provides a direct link to all the best currently available reference materials, useful links and training resources on the dangers of methamphetamines and their production.
- The Clearinghouse includes an excellent reproducible color pamphlet, entitled “How to Recognize a Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory” that is geared to mandated reporters and first responders, detailing the signs of a lab and the steps to take to report it.
- The Clearinghouse includes an excellent reproducible color pamphlet, entitled “How to Recognize a Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory” that is geared to mandated reporters and first responders, detailing the signs of a lab and the steps to take to report it.
- The Interagency Methamphetamine Steering Committee – OASAS has convened this group to bring about a coordinated response to the threat of methamphetamines, by revising protocols and ensuring the delivery of necessary training to their constituent providers.
- The OASAS Internal Work Group – OASAS has established this group to develop and monitor a plan of action for the delivery of necessary information and training to our own chemical dependence prevention and treatment systems.