Pubdate: Tue, 02 Aug 2005
Source: Hattiesburg American (MS)
Copyright: 2005 Hattiesburg American
Contact:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1646
Author: Joshua Thomas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

NEW LAW PUTTING CRIMP IN STATE METH PRODUCTION

Retailers Must Make Drugs More Restrictive

A new law that takes cold and weight loss medications off store shelves has 
already had an effect in controlling the production of methamphetamines in 
the state, a drug enforcement official said Monday.

Tim Rutledge, training director for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, 
said the law that requires retailers to put restrictions on products 
containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine - ingredients used to make 
methamphetamine and commonly found in cold and weight loss medicines - has 
made it more difficult for people to obtain the raw materials to make the 
illegal drug.

"This law has already encouraged more participation and enforcement of the 
retailers to call us when they see suspicious purchases of the precursors," 
Rutledge said. "With these controls in place, it makes it more difficult 
for people to get hold of the ingredients used to make methamphetamines."

Since taking effect on July 1, the Methamphetamine Reduction Act of 2005 - 
also known as the precursor law - has required retailers to remove 
medications with these ingredients from store shelves and put them behind 
counters. Customers are also required to present photo identification when 
buying the products.

The law also says that individuals cannot buy more than two packages or six 
grams of products that contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine at one time.

Customers also cannot acquire more than nine grams of any mixture 
containing the drugs in a 30-day period, unless there is a valid prescription.

Some area residents said they were not aware of the law until they saw the 
products were no longer on the shelves.

"The main way people are finding out about it is that they're coming in and 
finding that the products have been moved to behind the counter," said John 
Stevens, pharmacist at Oak Grove Pharmacy. "We then explain to them that 
the new law that has come out that requires us to remove it."

"I saw it in Wal-Mart that you have to go to the counter and ask for it," 
said Melanie Powell of Hattiesburg. "But it doesn't bother me about the 
extra effort to purchase it; I don't use it."

Shopper Lillie Jimenez said that though the new law is an inconvenience for 
customers, it is needed.

"They need to do anything they can to cut down on drug use," said Jimenez 
of Hattiesburg. "It's a good thing and I don't see a problem with it."

Often produced in makeshift labs, the highly addictive methamphetamine is 
made from ingredients found in medicines sold over-the-counter. And 
according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, while cocaine poses 
the biggest drug threat to the state, meth abuse is increasing and follows 
closely behind.

State officials hope that the new law will have a significant impact on the 
production and use of meth in the state.

"Just think about it, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are key ingredients 
used to make meth," said Assistant State Attorney General Lee Martin. "And 
now it's harder to get those ingredients. The number of labs and seizures 
is going to go down."

State Rep. Lee Jarrell Davis, R-Hattiesburg, who supported the bill during 
the state Legislature's regular session, said something needed to be done.

"Based on the debate we had on the floor, people were abusing these 
products," said Davis, who represents District 101 that serves Forrest and 
Lamar counties. "People were getting hold of things to make crystal meth. 
And they were saying it was too easy to get hold of these things to make 
illicit drugs."

Greg Akers, pharmacy manager of the Wal-Mart SuperCenter of U.S. 49 in 
Hattiesburg, is concerned that the new law doesn't create a statewide 
system to track people who buy the medicine over several visits.

"Right now there is no tracking," Akers said. "They can come in and show 
you a photo ID, come in later in the month and purchase more of the same 
product from a totally different cashier using the same ID."

Winn-Dixie stores, however, have begun a tracking system. Joann Gage, vice 
president of marketing and advertising, said cashiers are required to enter 
the customer's driver's license number into the cash register system when 
purchasing the products, allowing the store to track customers' purchases.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom