To fully appreciate the problem posed by methamphetamine in the Midland Empire, consider these statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• More than 1 million Americans report using meth in the past year and more than 500,000 report use in the last 30 days.

• The average age of first use of meth is dropping, and now is about age 19.

• Nearly 3 percent of high school seniors report they have used meth at some point in their young lives.

Add in that meth use is closely linked to other criminal activity; leads to higher community health care costs, lost productivity and endangerment of innocent children; and is more prevalent in rural areas.

That’s right: Whatever the statistics are nationally, we should presume they are worse in our heavily rural four-state region. That’s why we can’t say enough positive things about the efforts of law enforcement in this regard.

Missouri has been labeled the “meth capital” of the United States because our state regularly leads the nation in lab busts and discovery of other evidence of meth-making. If that is the price of vigilance, then so be it.

We fully support current state laws that require cold and allergy medications that contain pseudoephedrine to be placed behind pharmacy counters, limit amounts that can be purchased and require buyers to show a photo ID.

We also want to see a fully operational statewide monitoring system for pseudoephedrine purchases, as is provided for in a new law passed last year. Drug makers have agreed to help pay for this continually updated electronic database.

We do draw the line at a recent legislative proposal. We cannot support a requirement that people must obtain prescriptions before they are able to get such common over-the-counter remedies as Sudafed, Claritin D and Aleve Cold & Sinus.

Illicit production of meth can be sharply curtailed through use of an effective electronic database that can be monitored by law enforcement. At this time, we see no need for further disruptions to the lives of law-abiding citizens who happen to come down with a cold or allergy.