Pubdate: Tue, 23 Aug 2005
Source: News Journal (DE)
Copyright: 2005 The News Journal
Contact: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/index.html
Website: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/822
Author: Daniel Costello, Los Angeles Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH CRACKDOWN AFFECTS COLD SUFFERERS

Consumers could face a challenge this coming cold and flu season as 
restrictions aimed at curbing methamphetamine abuse make it more difficult 
to stock up on popular over-the-counter remedies.

But even as Congress considers legislation that would require retailers to 
put cold medications with pseudoephedrine behind the counter, and 
California already limits the purchase of such items, drugmakers are 
scurrying to get reformulated remedies onto pharmacy and store shelves.

The newer cold medications -- expected to hit the market this fall -- are 
slightly less effective than most products now available. Over time, 
however, the new products could replace many of the medications consumers 
have used for decades because their ingredients can't easily be used to 
make methamphetamines.

One product, Sudafed PE, is already available, and as many as a half-dozen 
other reformulated medications are expected soon. They will not contain 
pseudoephedrine, the popular decongestant that has been used in many cold 
and allergy medications such as NyQuil, Tylenol Flu and Claritin-D. 
Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in producing methamphetamines when it's 
boiled and mixed with household ingredients.

Some drug companies such as Pfizer, which manufactures Sudafed, plan to 
continue offering both versions of their products indefinitely, while 
others, including Procter & Gamble Co., which makes NyQuil and DayQuil, 
said they would phase out all medications containing pseudoephedrine later 
this year.

As abuse of methamphetamines has grown in recent years, most states have 
enacted laws or are considering legislation to restrict products that 
contain pseudoephedrine. California now limits people from buying more than 
three packages of cold or allergy pills during each visit, and Oregon will 
require consumers to get a prescription from a doctor before they can buy 
over-the-counter cold medications next year.

Meanwhile, Congress is considering legislation that would require retailers 
to put all cold medications containing the decongestant behind the counter 
and have customers sign an inventory log and show a photo ID. Under the 
bill, pseudoephedrine would be listed as a Schedule 5 narcotic and could be 
sold only by a pharmacist.

Critics of strict restrictions on the sale of cold medications say they are 
an overreaction to the methamphetamine problem. Several drugstore chains 
have complained that the barriers are unfair to law-abiding customers and 
retailers. They also point out that many users can find ways around the 
laws. In states with daily limits such as California, they say, 
methamphetamine users can leave one store and buy more at another, a tactic 
known as "smurfing."

Mary Ann Wagner, spokeswoman for the National Association of Chain Drug 
Stores in Alexandria, Va., said the group supports a national standard like 
the one Congress is considering but fears requiring customers to fill out a 
log would lead to longer lines and more work for pharmacists.

The group stresses other solutions. "We need to get at the bigger issue of 
methamphetamine addiction and how to treat it," Wagner said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth