'I would encourage Mr. Murray and other members of the Bush administration to come see firsthand the devastation meth has caused many local communities, schools and families right here in Southwest Washington. Then I would like them to tell us that meth is not an epidemic.'

The Vancouver Democrat was reacting to a report on methamphetamine abuse released Tuesday by the National Association of Counties, and to the administration's response.

The association surveyed law enforcement officials in 500 counties in 45 states and concluded that meth is now the nation's leading drug-related law enforcement problem. Eleven counties in Washington were among those surveyed.

Baird, co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Meth Caucus, pushed successfully last month to include $20 million more than the administration had proposed in next year's budget to fight international meth trafficking. The administration had proposed deep cuts in meth policing in the 2006 federal budget.

"The NACo report is further evidence of the growing meth epidemic in the United States," Baird said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the Pacific Northwest has long been witness to the devastation and destruction this drug can inflict upon communities and families."

Marijuana Most Serious Drug Problem?

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recently restated its position that marijuana use remains the nation's most serious drug problem.

Federal officials estimate that 15 million Americans use marijuana, compared with about 1 million who use meth. The office's Web site includes several press alerts concerning marijuana use; one issued last month warns parents that marijuana use among teenagers spikes during summer vacation.

However, the administration also supported action by Congress this spring to tighten the distribution of precursor chemicals used to manufacture meth, such as those found in some cold medications.

Administration drug policy analyst Dave Murray told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he understood the meth problem sweeping the nation was serious, but he disagreed that it had reached epidemic proportions.

"This thing is burning, and because it's burning, we're going to put it out," Murray told the AP. "But we can't turn our back on other threats."

The survey of 500 counties found that officials in 60 percent of those counties now believe meth is the largest drug problem they face. Of responding law enforcement agencies, 87 percent said they had experienced an increase in meth-related arrests in the past three years.

Law enforcement officials estimate that more than half of all crimes committed in Southwest Washington are meth-related.

Washington and Oregon were among 17 states that reported at least a 100 percent increase in meth-related arrests between 2000 and 2005.

Controlling Meth Should Not Be a Partisan Issue

The association also surveyed child welfare officials in 300 counties in 13 states. Thirty-seven percent of those counties reported an increase in out-of-home placements in just the past year due to the use of meth.

Baird denounced the administration's apparent lack of urgency about attacking the meth problem. He said that controlling meth should not be a partisan issue.

"I would encourage Mr. Murray and other members of the Bush administration to come see firsthand the devastation meth has caused many local communities, schools and families right here in Southwest Washington," Baird said in a statement. "Then I would like them to tell us that meth is not an epidemic."