Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph (WV) Copyright: 2005 Bluefield Daily Telegraph Contact: http://www.bdtonline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1483 Author: AP WARNER, LEGISLATORS ANNOUNCE ANTI-METH MEASURES RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Some over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies will be moved behind the counter starting next month, and you'll have to show identification and sign a register to buy them. Gov. Mark R. Warner signed an executive order Thursday to limit and track the sales of certain nonprescription drugs that can be used to manufacture illegal and highly addictive methamphetamine. Earlier in the day, House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford County and other Republican legislators said they will back legislation to make the restrictions a state law. Warner's regulations will take effect Oct. 1 and would be replaced by the statute on July 1, 2006. The regulations will limit the amount of medicine containing pseudoephedrine - - such as Sudafed - that a person can buy in a 30-day period. Warner said he expects about a dozen products to be affected. State Health Commissioner Robert B. Stroube said he envisions limiting purchases to 7.5 grams, which is roughly 250 regular-strength tablets per month, although that is one of many details to be worked out as the regulations are developed this month. Warner said 37 states have imposed similar restrictions and that they have been remarkably effective in reducing the number of meth labs in many of those states. The Virginia attorney general's office has a voluntary program, Meth Watch, that trains retailers to watch for and report suspiciously large purchases of pseudoephedrine, iodine, drain cleaners and other items used to make methamphetamine. Also, the General Assembly passed legislation last year to toughen penalties for meth manufacturers. However, officials said more must be done. "We need to act now to stop this scourge in Virginia," Warner said at a news conference, where he was joined by Stroube and several law enforcement officers from across the state. "I will not allow Virginia to become a haven for meth labs, for meth users." State police said 47 meth labs have been busted this year, down slightly from 53 at the same time a year ago. Last year's total was 82. Warner said one-fifth of meth labs are discovered only when they catch fire and explode. The labs - often in motel rooms or apartments - create a highly toxic mess that Col. W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of state police, said typically costs $3,000 to $10,000 to clean up. Howell said in a teleconference with reporters that methamphetamine has supplanted OxyContin abuse as the state's fastest growing drug problem, and the problem is spreading after first appearing in southwestern Virginia. "No region of the commonwealth is immune to the devastating effects of this drug," Howell said. Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, will sponsor the legislation. Howell said details will be worked out by a task force consisting of legislators, law enforcement officers and industry representatives. Laurie Peterson, president of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association, said she welcomed the opportunity to weigh in on the proposals. "Our concern is that we don't overreach," Peterson said, citing the possible burdens on both mom-and-pop stores and pharmacists who are overwhelmed during cold and flu season. Concerns about the impact on small businesses led to the demise of Kilgore's legislation earlier this year to allow only pharmacists to sell pseudoephedrine. The GOP legislators and Warner said minimizing the burden for small businesses will be a priority in developing the new initiatives. Kilgore's twin brother, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore, has favored the voluntary approach of the Meth Watch program that he created as attorney general. Campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said Kilgore has no objection to the new efforts as long as the interests of small businesses are protected. Kilgore's Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, said he supports the initiative. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh