Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2005
Source: Mississippi Press, The (MS)
Copyright: 2005 Mississippi Press
Contact:  http://www.gulflive.com/mississippipress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2254
Author: Virginia Langum, The Mississippi Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

LOCAL PHARMACISTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLAUD METH BILL

Many local pharmacists say they have regulated their sales of
pseudoephedrines, a common ingredient in cold medicines, as well as a
key ingredient in meth, long before this week's discussions by the
Mississippi Legislature.

Rhonda Clark, pharmacist at Pascagoula Sav-Rex, only stocks a few
bottles of each product on the shelves. The higher dosages are already
kept behind the counter.

Proposed legislation would strictly limit the handling of
pseudoephedrines to pharmacists. A consumer would not be able to buy
products such as Sudafed directly off the shelf.

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary A Committee passed a bill that would
limit the sale of pseudoephedrine-base products to two packages or six
grams per transaction. The bill also requires that the medicine be
stored behind a counter, in a locked display case or under
video-surveillance.

Several other methamphetamine bills are currently before the House
Judiciary B Committee and the full House.

"We don't stock much of (pseudoephredrines) at all. We watch it
carefully. We put our extra stock behind the counter," said Besty
McCall, pharmacist at Lovelace Drug Store in Ocean Springs.

As for the bill, McCall said she's for it. "Of course, it would be a
lot more on our part to stock it behind the shelf, but (we should do)
whatever we can to deter these people from making this stuff."

John McKinney, pharmacist at Burnham Drugs in Moss Point, saw two
sides to the issue. "From a pharmacy standpoint, it's not a bad idea.
A lot of times people need information on those medications anyway,"
McKinney said.

However, McKinney said, the move could also be interpreted as
government infringement. "Society as a whole is paying a price for
those who aren't being responsible," he said.

Capt. Louie Miller of the Jackson County Narcotics Task Force has seen
the meth problem explode in Jackson County in the past few years.

"I don't think you would find anybody in law enforcement who doesn't
think this is a good idea," Miller said. "Anything they can do to make
it harder for people to buy the ingredients to make meth, the better
off every community will be."

The basic ingredients in meth can all be purchased at Wal-Mart, Miller
said. However, limited access to at least one key ingredient is a step
in the right direction.

"It's going to lighten the load of law enforcement and the court
docket. We can spend more energy towards other crimes and save a ton
of money."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake