The struggle to suppress the traffic in methamphetamine continues to be a crucial health and crime issue for the Valley and the state. That struggle brought Sen. Dianne Feinstein to town Monday to gather support from for her latest legislation from local law enforcement officials.

We enthusiastically add our voice to theirs, and encourage the entire community to be more vigilant and aggressive in this effort.

Meth is a killer, and not just for those who become addicted to it. The manufacture of the drug leaves terrible toxic wastes that can seep into soil and groundwater supplies, and cause horrible health problems for those exposed to the process, including, in many cases, innocent young children.

It's a particular problem for the Valley, which has for some years been a major center of the production of the illegal drug. It's not enough to simply shut down the so-called meth labs; the sites must be thoroughly cleaned up, a tremendously expensive process that's quite beyond the means of local agencies.

Feinstein has led efforts to bring help — and funding — to local agencies for that effort. Now she has taken a slightly different tack — making it harder for meth producers to get their hands on the common cold medications that provide important raw materials for the manufacture of meth.

Under Feinstein's bill, called the Combat Meth Act of 2005, cold medications containing pseudoephedrine — an essential ingredient in methamphetamine — would be removed from store shelves and kept behind counters, with restrictions on the amount that any single customer could purchase at one time.

Purchasers would be required to show identification and sign for cold medications, and be limited to 9 grams per month or 300 30-milligram pills. The bill should go to the Senate Judiciary Committee this month.

A number of stores, including Albertson's, Rite Aid and Walgreens, have already voluntarily removed the products from their shelves and placed them under greater control behind counters.

Feinstein was joined at her afternoon news conference Monday by Fresno County District Attorney Elizabeth Egan, Sheriff Richard Pierce and Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

"Everybody is becoming aware of how big this problem is," Feinstein said. "This is a full-out war against methamphetamine."

It is indeed, and it deserves the support of everyone in the Valley.