Pubdate: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2005 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Los Angeles Times Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) TARGET MOVING COLD MEDICINE Target Corp., the United States' second-largest discount retailer, has announced that it will begin selling a wide range of nonprescription cold and allergy medications only from behind the pharmacy counter because they contain a key ingredient used in making methamphetamine. Medications containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine, known as PSE, include NyQuil, Claritin-D, Sudafed, Tylenol Flu and more than a hundred other products used to treat cold, allergy and sinus symptoms. Target said on Monday that it was the first national retailer to voluntarily restrict sales of such drugs to the pharmacy counter. Target said it would stop sales of the medications altogether at stores that don't have a pharmacy. More than 300 of the retailer's 1,330 stores lack pharmacies. The Minneapolis-based retailer said it was taking the step because it would "help curb the growing production and distribution of meth." Target also said it had become increasingly difficult for national retailers to adhere to the patchwork of state and local restrictions on access to drugs used in the production of methamphetamine, an illegal and highly addictive stimulant that can be processed from PSE extracted from over-the-counter medications. "We do anticipate that this might impact the sales of products containing pseudoephedrine," Target spokeswoman Lena Michaud said. "But we believe that, on balance, it's the right decision to make." It's not clear yet whether Target's action will prompt other retailers, including drug and grocery store chains, to follow suit. Some, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Walgreen Co., said Monday that they had no plans to alter their policies as a result of Target's move. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager