Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jan 2005
Source: Columbia Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2005 Columbia Missourian
Contact:  http://www.columbiamissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2282
Author: Meredith Mackenzie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BLUNT LOOKS TO LIMIT METH INGREDIENTS

Over-The-Counter Cold Medicine Sales Could Face Restrictions.

January 23, 2005 Gov. Matt Blunt announced Friday he has gained the support 
of the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation that would control the 
key ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamine in illegal labs, 
pseudoephedrine. This law also applies to ephedrine, which is another form 
of the same drug.

Methamphetamine, or "meth," is a stimulant drug that affects the central 
nervous system. It causes hyperactivity, decreased appetite and sometimes 
violence.

Blunt's proposal would restrict access to pseudoephedrine and other 
over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing the drug 
ephedrine. If passed, the bill would require products containing ephedrine 
to be kept behind pharmacy counters. This proposal requires individuals 
purchasing these products to show photo ID and to sign a log kept by the 
pharmacy. The quantity of pseudoephedrine an individual could buy in one 
month would be restricted to nine grams.

Bob Pryor, a pharmacist at Walgreens in Columbia, said the pharmacy is 
already taking the measures Blunt is proposing.

"It works," he said. "You ask everyone for their driver's license. Those 
people who are not requesting Sudafed for cold medication are reserved and 
do not want to present their driver's license. They literally turn around 
and run out."

Pryor said Walgreens is currently cooperating with law enforcement 
officials, informing them if pharmacists think a customer's behavior is 
irregular with regards to cold medicines containing ephedrine.

Maj. Tom Reddin of the Boone County Sheriff's Department said new laws 
would help in minimizing labs.

"One cannot make meth without pseudoephedrine," he said.

Besides pseudoephedrine, found in common cold medication such as NyQuil, 
meth cooks use household items such as rubbing alcohol, acetone, rock salt 
and lithium batteries, according to the Web site for the Sheriff's 
Department of Green County.

According to the White House drug policy, the highest rate of (meth) lab 
activity in the nation occurs in Missouri.

"Meth smells when it's being cooked. In the southern portion of Missouri it 
is easier to cook because of the relative population. People are more 
spread out," Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey said.

According to Reddin, Boone County law enforcement seized 11 meth labs and 
made 15 arrests in 2003. In 2004, restructuring of the drug enforcement 
unit of the Sheriff's Department caused numbers of meth-related incidents 
to drop. County officials have already seized one lab this year.

"Photo IDs and logs of ephedrine would definitely be a viable tracking 
method to identify those who are buying these products to cook meth," 
Reddin said.

Darran Alberty, treasurer for the Missouri Pharmacy Association and a 
pharmacist at D&H Prescription Drug Store in Columbia, said that current 
law only requires products containing ephedrine to be kept behind the 
pharmacy counter or within 10 feet of the cashier.

He explained how the state's Pharmacy Association is looking at the 
legislation.

"We are first concerned with patient safety and then with the practice of 
pharmacy. We don't want any undue burden placed on pharmacies by legislation."

Alberty said that the advantage of Blunt's proposal is clear. "We can all 
benefit from measures aimed at stopping the meth problem."
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