The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a request Thursday to fund programs to fight the rising methamphetamine problem in Wisconsin.

Sen. Herb Kohl secured $5.4 million in the appropriations bill for the U.S. Justice Department’s 2004 budget to help Wisconsin law-enforcement officers combat the spread of this drug.

The bill includes $500,000 for the Wisconsin Methamphetamine Law Enforcement Initiative, $250,000 for the Barron-Rusk County Drug Task Force and $50,000 for the St. Croix District Attorney’s Office Initiative to Combat Methamphetamine.

Since 1998, the number of cases involving methamphetamine in the state has risen from 112 to 314 in 2002. Western Wisconsin, especially St. Croix County, faces the greatest threat of this drug problem. Of the 505 methamphetamine drug arrests in the four major regions of the state last year, 74 percent took place in the northwest region.

“Because of our proximity to the Twin Cities and surrounding rural areas, it has become a major problem in our area,” St. Croix County District Attorney Eric Johnson said.

Although the western part of the state will receive the majority of assistance, combating its spread is a statewide concern.

“It puts our law-enforcement officers at risk every time they respond to a situation involving meth,” Kohl said. “These officers need more resources to fight the spread of meth and do it safely.”

The initiative includes new prevention and drug awareness programs that aim to educate and decrease the demand for this “insidious drug,” Kohl said.

St. Croix County plans to use the funds to build a better task force. Currently, the county prosecutor does much of the work, but Johnson said efforts needed to expand from the court into the community.

“We’re looking for a resource person to help coordinate and do community education,” he said. “We believe strong law enforcement and education are important and necessary to fight this problem.”

The committee’s announcement followed the day after Gov. Jim Doyle signed legislation increasing the penalty for first-time possession or attempted possession to a felony offense. After a change several years ago, Wisconsin law lowered the penalty to a misdemeanor.

“This legislation gives Wisconsin law-enforcement officials the appropriate means to charge and punish those who are involved in the methamphetamine trade,” Doyle said.

Five years ago, most of the methamphetamine available in Wisconsin was produced outside of the state, particularly in Iowa and Minnesota. However, due to increasing investigative efforts in these states to combat use, distribution and manufacturing of the drug, transporters are moving into Wisconsin.

Methamphetamine possession in Iowa and Minnesota is already a felony offense. Doyle said that he does not want this to be the reason for the higher levels of production, sales and abuse in Wisconsin.

“We in no way want to encourage those who would break the law and bring harm to our communities to come to Wisconsin because of a weaker penalty in our state,” Doyle said.

First-time possession of methamphetamine in Wisconsin is now a two-year felony; production is 22 years.