Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jul 2005
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
398 26320850.xml&coll=7
Copyright: 2005 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Jeff Mapes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HOUSE VOTES TO RESTRICT METH INGREDIENT

An Oregon Bill Requiring Prescriptions For Some Cold Pills Is 
Expected To Sail Through The Senate And Be Signed Into Law

SALEM -- The Oregon Legislature took a major step Wednesday toward 
passage of a first-in-the-nation bill requiring prescriptions for 
cold and allergy medicines containing an ingredient used to make 
methamphetamine.

The House voted 55-4 to send the bill to the Senate even as 
legislators said they knew that many of their constituents would 
resent the inconvenience and expense of having to get a prescription 
for common drugs such as Sudafed and Claritin D.

Sponsors said they expected the measure to swiftly pass the Senate 
and be signed into law by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Blake Rice, chairman of the state Board of Pharmacy, said his board 
planned to put the new prescription requirement in place before the 
next cold and flu season.

Currently, cold pills with pseudoephedrine -- the essential 
ingredient in meth -- can only be purchased from pharmacies after 
consumers show identification and sign a log. Liquid and gel products 
are also slated to soon be placed behind pharmacy counters.

Law enforcement officials credit those restrictions with cutting the 
number of meth labs in half. But sponsors of a package of bills 
attacking the meth epidemic said they're convinced they need tougher 
rules to stop all diversion to meth cooks.

"You can vote no on House Bill 2485 and assure then that people can 
be treated for their sniffles," said Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold 
Beach. "You can vote yes on HB2485 and protect Oregonians and their 
children from the scourge of meth and give them an opportunity for a 
meth-free future."

"Could I lose my seat for doing the right thing?" said Rep. Brian 
Boquist, R-Dallas, of his vote in favor of the bill. "Absolutely, and 
if necessary, I will."

Several legislators said in interviews that they fretted about 
whether it made sense to go further than any other any state in 
restricting access to these products. But only a handful of 
legislators spoke out on the floor -- and voted -- against the measure.

The most impassioned opposition came from Rep. Jeff Kropf, 
R-Sublimity, who said voters won't understand the complexities of the 
meth issue.

"What they're going to understand is: 'I'm being punished for 
something I didn't do,' " said Kropf, who added that the prescription 
requirement "goes too far beyond common sense."

Kropf noted that most of the meth in Oregon is imported from Mexican 
superlabs and that the real solution is turning would-be users away 
from meth with education and treatment.

Rep. Tom Butler, R-Ontario, raised concerns that visitors to Oregon 
could be arrested for carrying pseudoephedrine that wasn't purchased 
with a prescription.

Supporters said they doubted that would happen. Rice said it was just 
"common sense" that someone carrying medicine for personal use would 
not be arrested. He noted that there are already several prescription 
drugs regulated differently by various states.

Several legislators said it was important to eliminate local meth 
labs even if most supplies of the drug come from out of state. They 
said dangerous chemicals from the meth labs contaminate homes and 
endanger the health of children.

Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, a retired Portland police lieutenant, told 
of a rental van that had been turned into a meth lab. Though it was 
supposed to have been destroyed, he warned that some family could 
unknowingly have used it and had their belongings contaminated.

"We can either make pseudoephedrine a prescription drug or we can 
continue to see more meth labs," he said.

Rep. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, said requiring a prescription 
would not be a hardship for many people who can use an increasing 
number of alternatives. Pfizer, which makes Sudafed, already sells a 
version that uses another decongestant and is planning 
pseudoephedrine-free formulations of some other brands.

In addition, doctors would be allowed to dispense prescriptions for 
pseudoephedrine products over the phone, and consumers could get up 
to five refills in a six-month period.

The House also passed a companion measure providing money for drug 
treatment, and the Senate approved two other bills aimed at attacking 
meth. Altogether, the measures provide $7.1 million for treatment, 
tougher sentences and related programs.

Rep. Gary Hansen, D-Portland, said the measures do "pathetically 
little for drug treatment," particularly in light of what he said 
were $28 million in cuts to treatment programs paid for through the 
Oregon Health Plan.
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MAP posted-by: Beth