SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator William Haine (D – Alton) has passed a measure on the Senate floor to prohibit convicted drug offenders from possessing or purchasing ingredients used in the production of methamphetamine.

"The Attorney General’s office and the State Police brought this bill to me as a way to fight meth use," Haine stated. "This bill will help curb the use of this destructive drug in Illinois."

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, methamphetamine is the primary illicit drug threat to communities in central and southern Illinois. Illinois ranks #4 in the nation for meth-related arrests and ranks ninth in the nation in meth-related incidents. Following drug control statutes enacted in 2004, meth labs incidents declined 54 percent over a three year period.

"This bill strengthens our precursory drug laws by making it illegal for drug users to possess these components," Haine said.

House Bill 1908 prohibits individuals convicted of methamphetamine related offenses from purchasing or possessing any product that contains pseudoephedrine or ammonium nitrate as a condition of parole or supervised release. Pseudoephedrine and ammonium nitrate are components used in the making of methamphetamine. Parolees will be allowed to possess medication containing pseudoephedrine if prescribed by a physician.

"It is simply practical to keep the precursors to methamphetamine out of the hands of past drug offenders unless deemed absolutely medically necessary by a doctor," Haine said.

"Offenders prescribed with such medication will be monitored vigilantly by their parole officers to ensure that the prescription is used for its intended medical purpose," added Haine.

House Bill 1908 now returns to the House for concurrence.