OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation to target meth manufacturers while preserving citizens’ access to medicines. Sen. Rick Brinkley, author of Senate Bill 1634, said his proposal would provide law enforcement officials with powerful tools to fight meth, but would not make pseudoephedrine available by prescription only.

The proposal would limit over-the-counter purchases of pseudoephedrine to 3.6 grams in a single day, and 7.2 grams per month – the recommended therapeutic dosage. If approved by the Legislature, Oklahoma would be the only state with an annual purchase limit for pseudoephedrine. SB 1634 would limit pseudoephedrine purchases to 60 grams per year.

“Meth addiction is taking a horrendous toll on the people of this state and the families who are going through it,” said Brinkley, R-Owasso. “However, as we address the issue I don’t believe we need to place additional burdens on law-abiding citizens. This bill gives law enforcement the tools they need to bust these meth labs, without inconveniencing law-abiding citizens who need medicine.”

The measure will also give law enforcement officials the ability to track purchases of pseudoephedrine across state lines. Brinkley noted his bill would give investigators the ability to receive electronic notifications when suspected meth manufacturers and their suppliers purchase pseudoephedrine in neighboring states. The measure would also institute a 72-hour purchase block for those who exceed the daily purchase limit.

“Those of us who have counseled, or have known people who have dealt with addiction, know how horrible the problem is,” Brinkley said. “But we simply can’t limit access to every item a criminal can misuse. We have to take a smarter approach, and I believe this legislation does just that. I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues who joined me in taking this step to fight meth addiction in our state.”

Senate Bill 1634 will now advance to the House for consideration.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (3/15/2012)

Oklahoma City, OK—Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb is joining with Google to announce the Oklahoma launch of Google for Veterans and Families, which is an online toolbox for veterans and returning soldiers. The announcement coincides with the return of Oklahoma's 45th Infantry from Afghanistan.

Googleforveterans.com is a website that was designed by the Google Veteran Network, the company’s employee community of veterans, reservists, guardsman, family members and supporters, who have first-hand experience with the challenge of serving, coming home and transitioning into civilian life. The site includes tools such as Google’s Resume Builder, a 3D Tour Builder, video transition tips and Vet Connect for Google +.

Google has established a veterans channel at www.youtube.com/veterans where individuals can share their thanks by video with veterans who have served—or are serving—our country both here at home and overseas. The videos are organized by state, which lets thankful Oklahomans communicate directly with Oklahoma vets, active-duty service men and women, and the soldiers of the 45th Infantry.

“I am proud to work with Google on this meaningful and thoughtful initiative to honor our service men and women, many of whom are far away from home,” Lamb said. “In Oklahoma, we hold the highest respect and appreciation for our soldiers and officers who serve in the military. Our fellow Oklahomans who have volunteered to serve our country deserve our thanks for protecting our country.”

Google opened a data center in Pryor, Oklahoma this past summer where several veterans are employed.

"Google is part of the community here and we want to thank the men and women of the 45th, and their families, for their sacrifices over the past year," commented Mike Wooten, operations manager at the facility. "We’re glad we can leverage our technology to help members of the Oklahoma National Guard, and we hope all of the returning soldiers take advantage of the tools available through Google for Veterans and Families."

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The Senate this week reached the deadline for passing Senate bills on the floor. Senate committees will now begin consideration of more than 300 measures approved by the House of Representatives.

Among the bills approved this week were several of mine, including a measure to combat meth manufacturers while preserving citizens’ access to the medicines they need. Senate Bill 1634 will provide law enforcement with powerful tools to fight meth, including the ability to track purchases of pseudoephedrine across state lines. However, the measure would not make pseudoephedrine available by prescription only. As we address this problem, I don’t believe we need to place additional burdens on law-abiding citizens. My bill gives law enforcement the tools to bust meth labs, without limiting the ability of law-abiding citizens to obtain popular and reliable medicines.

The Senate has approved several measures that would lower the state’s income tax. This effort is still a work in progress, but we remain committed to lowering the tax burden on hardworking Oklahomans while preserving core government functions.

In Washington D.C., passage of a two-year highway bill by the U.S. Senate would maintain current funding levels for Oklahoma. The state would receive about $650 million each year, which means Oklahoma would receive $1.38 for every $1 spent on the federal gasoline tax. The bill gives states more flexibility in how they use the funds so the most pressing projects can be addressed. Sen. Jim Inhofe said the bill would support 45,000 jobs in Oklahoma. Passage of the bill is good news for the state.

Oklahoma received more good economic news this week. The quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reports that 24 percent of Oklahoma employers plan to hire more workers from April to June, ranking the state’s employment outlook as the fourth best in the nation.

Please feel free to contact me at the state Capitol by calling (405) 521-5566 or by email at brinkley@oksenate.gov.

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Contact: Senator Rick Brinkley
State Capitol: (405) 521-5566
Email: brinkley@oksenate.gov

According to a report just released by the U.S. Surgeon General, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, far too many youth and young adults are using tobacco. In Oklahoma, an estimated 3.7 percent of middle school students and almost 18 percent of high school students smoke.

“While the long-term health effects of tobacco use are well-known, this report concludes that smoking early in life has substantial health risks that begin almost immediately – even for youth and young adults,” said Mary Beth Murray, Administrator. “The younger people are when they start using tobacco, the more likely they are to get addicted and the more heavily addicted they will become.”

Nationwide, declines in the use of tobacco by youth and young adults have slowed for cigarette smoking and stalled for smokeless tobacco use after years of steady progress. Oklahoma, however, has better news to report. Latest data for Oklahoma middle school and high school students indicate that since 1999, fewer of these students use any type of tobacco product. For example, from 2009 to 2011, cigarette smoking decreased 11 percent among high school students and 43 percent among middle school students. Smokeless tobacco use remained the same among high school students and decreased 20 percent among middle school students. Cigar use also remained the same among high school students but decreased 14 percent among middle school students. Among young adults aged 18 to 24 years of age, smoking cigarettes has decreased by 20 percent in Oklahoma.

While noting some progress in smoking among youth, Oklahoma public health officials are still concerned that tobacco marketing is a key factor in causing young people to start using tobacco. More than $1 million an hour is spent on marketing tobacco products in this country – and 99 percent of all new smokers come from youth and young adult populations who are enticed to smoke by this marketing.

“The evidence in the new Surgeon General’s report clearly demonstrates the need for intensified and sustained efforts to prevent our young people from using tobacco,” said Murray. “We know what works: comprehensive efforts that include mass media campaigns, 100 percent smoke-free laws in restaurants, bars and worksites, high cigarette prices, evidence-based school programs, and sustained community-wide efforts. If Oklahoma fully funded its tobacco control program and adopted the strategies outlined in the report, youth smoking rates could decline by half in six years. And more importantly, we would reduce the staggering toll that tobacco takes on our families and communities.”

Successful tobacco prevention programs more than pay for themselves in lives and health care dollars saved; the most effective ones are funded at or near CDC-recommended levels. Oklahoma ranks 7th for funding tobacco prevention programs, spending more than $21 million on tobacco control programs as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This investment is money well spent as more and more local cities and towns are taking action in their communities. Currently, there are 253 school districts that have adopted 24/7 tobacco-free policies out of 522 districts in the state. Seventy percent of public school students attend a 24/7 tobacco-free school. Numerous communities have adopted Clean Indoor Air and Youth Access ordinances that mirror the state laws and are clearly ready to take responsible measures to increase the health and economic development within their communities.

Tobacco use prevention includes the Oklahoma Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW; 1-800-784-8669. For Services in Spanish call 1-800-793-1552.

For more information on Oklahoma tobacco control activities, please visit http://tups.health.ok.gov, or www.stopswithme.com. For online copies of the Surgeon Generals’s report, executive summary, and an easy-to-read guide on tobacco use and young people, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov.

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Rogers County Health Department
Date: 03/13/12
Contact: Mary Beth Murray, Administrator
Phone Number: 918-341-3166

-- Cara Cowan Watts (3/18/2012)

http://hannahshelpinghands.org

Hannah's Helping Hands, Inc. — Our Mission
We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization providing financial assistance to families with children battling cancer. Many families need help with the most basic needs for their families during this fight for their child’s life. Some must leave work for months and even years to care for their sick child and the financial loss can be devastating. Our goal is to help as many families being treated locally as possible. We help with basic needs such as gas & food cards, groceries, wigs, utility payments, prescriptions, medical co-payments, rent/housing as well as other expenses. Our referrals come from doctors, nurses and staff at a local children’s hospital in Tulsa as well as our local communities.