Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Kelly Townsend

POPULAR MEDICINE MOVED

Giant retailer Wal-Mart is getting the jump on proposed legislation in 
Alabama and other states by moving popular cold and sinus medication off 
the counters.

That legislation, spearheaded by State Sen. Lowell Barron and still under 
consideration in Montgomery, would require medications containing 
pseudoephedrine, a key component for making methamphetamine, to be sold 
behind the counter and limit the amount sold to a single customer.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, which has nearly 4,000 Wal-Mart and 
Sam's Club stores in the United States and another 1,600 international 
locations, announced Monday they will join rivals Target Corp. and 
Albertson's Inc in moving such medicines behind the counter throughout all 
locations.

That decision was applauded by DeKalb County law enforcement officials.

"I think it is a good idea, and I am glad Wal-Mart is planning to move all 
of these medications behind the counter," Jeff Bain, a DeKalb County Drug 
task force agent, said. "By doing this, one of the main ingredients, 
pseudoephedrine, used in making meth is in a more controlled environment 
and it is not easy for someone to just go out and buy as many products as 
they want."

DeKalb County Chief Deputy Mike James said he was proud to see a major 
corporation taking action against the meth problem.

"I would also encourage other vendors to become responsible vendors and 
follow suit," James said.

Jacquie Young, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart, said all the company's 
locations are planning to move over the counter medications, such as Pfizer 
Inc.'s Sudafed, Sinutab, and Schering-Plough Corp's Afrin nasal spray, 
behind the counter by June.

"This action has already been taking in about 60 percent of our stores," 
Young said. "And we hope to have it completed in all of stores by the end 
of June."

Young said she didn't know if the Wal-Mart in Fort Payne had already moved 
the medicine.

"We will continue with our plan to move the most commonly abused products 
containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter in all our stores by 
early June," Young said. "The remaining solid dose products containing 
multi-ingredients will be moved behind the pharmacy counter by September of 
this year."

The limit on the number of products that can be bought, according to Young, 
is three during one purchase.

In February 1997, Young said Wal-Mart implemented a voluntary sales 
limitation of selected over-the-counter cough and cold products in an 
effort to help curb the problem of meth.

'This is an issue that affects the country, and we want to do our part to 
help," Young said. "Not only is the number of pseudophedrine items 
restricted, but we also have our cash registers set up to prompt cashiers 
that these products are restricted."

Bain said he wants the limit to be one package.

" I really don't see why someone would need more than one medication at a 
time," Bain said. "But I do think limiting the number is a great idea."

Young said Wal-Mart has also been in discussions with suppliers "regarding 
the reformulating of these products with alternative ingredients."

The move comes as a number of states imposed restrictions on the sale of 
some of the cold medicines, which have resulted in a drop in the number of 
meth lab seizures.

Six States allow only pharmacies to sell drug with pseudophedrine, and 
seven others make retailers lock up the products or sell t hem staffed 
counters. Legislators in 22 states are considering similar restrictions.

- The Associated Press contributed to this story