Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Troy McCullough, Tim Davis, Jennifer Holland, Kathleen Carlson and Jenny Hykes.

President Clinton this week announced a new anti-drug strategy with a strong emphasis to crack down on methamphetamines.

The new policy will attempt to battle the increasing problem of methamphetamines across the nation.

This has come along at a critical time when officials have said that the abuse of methamphetamines has become one of Iowa’s biggest drug problems.

In Clinton’s 1997 budget, $15.1 will be directed toward federal drug spending devoted to law enforcement and other measures to reduce the supply of drugs.

The money also will be used to promote prevention and provide treatment for users.

This country’s drug problem is out of control. Hopefully the increased spending will help to achieve Clinton’s goals of encouraging young people to reject drugs and intensifying attempts to break up sources of supply here and abroad.

While Iowa has recently added the drug tax stamp law to detour drug sales, Clinton has proposed additions to regulatory controls of chemicals used in the cooking of methamphetamines and mandatory minimum sentences for drug sales of the extremely addictive drug.

America’s drug problem may not end tomorrow, but Clinton’s efforts are a strong push to help our communities.