BUSH UNVEILS NEW STRATEGY TO COMBAT METH SOME STATE LEADERS NOT SOLD ON PLAN.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The White House unveiled a nationwide strategy on Thursday targeting methamphetamine abuse, but the plan drew immediate criticism from California leaders who said it was underfunded and offered little to curb the crisis.

With methamphetamine now surpassing cocaine use in many locales, the federal government plans to debut public service advertisements, fund $16.2 million in treatment grants and limit the sale of over-the-counter cold medicine containing ingredients used to make the illegal drug.

``The scourge of methamphetamine demands unconventional thinking and innovative solutions to fight the devastation it leaves behind,'' Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in announcing the plan with White House drug czar John Walters and Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.

But state and local leaders said California laws curbing cold-medicine purchases to 3 grams per transaction already are more restrictive than the White House proposal for a 3.6-gram limit. Some individual retailers limit purchases even further.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called the plan ``inadequate.'' She's sponsored a bill to move cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine - the key ingredient used to ``cook'' meth in illicit labs - off supermarket shelves and behind counters.

The bill also would limit consumers to buying 7.5 grams, or about 12 packages, per month. They would have to show a photo ID, and computer tracking would prevent customers from exceeding the limit at other stores.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Feinstein's bill last month, and the full Senate is expected to vote on it this fall, although the White House has not endorsed it.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall described the restrictions in the federal plan as ``just not enough,'' noting that the plan does little to prevent makers of meth from buying the maximum quantity at several stores every day.

``They can go from Target to Wal-Mart to Savon to Rite Aid,'' she said.

The White House plan adds some funds for meth addicts as part of a $12.4 billion drug-control program in its 2006 proposed budget. But only $16.2 million of that is new money that will come in the form of drug treatment grants that specifically target methamphetamine addicts.

Los Angeles County was not a recipient of any grants announced Thursday, although health department officials said 21.1 percent of those they treat for drug addiction list methamphetamine as their primary problem.

``I'm glad the federal government is paying attention to this problem, but I wouldn't characterize this as a huge federal investment in meth,'' said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's public health director.

One element of the White House plan that won unanimous praise from state and local officials was the attention it brought to the national methamphetamine epidemic.

``The methamphetamine problem is not just a law enforcement problem - it's an abuse problem and an education problem,'' said Lt. Manuel Ariza, deputy director of L.A. IMPACT drug task force. ``Every and any little thing helps.''

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com

BREAKDOWN

White House Anti-Meth Program Highlights:

--Limits the purchase of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine to 3.6 grams per transaction, or about six packages.

--Requires pseudoephedrine importers to get Drug Enforcement Administration approval for any shipment order changes to prevent products being diverted for illegal use.

--Provides $16.2 million over three years to help local agencies treat methamphetamine addiction.

--Plans for the DEA to expand a pilot project that helps to eliminate clandestine meth labs.

--Creates ads targeting methamphetamine, which the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign will launch in the fall in targeted areas.

--Launches www.methresources.gov.

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BREAKDOWN (see text)