Pubdate: Mon, 16 May 2005
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH)
1/-1/all
Copyright: 2005 The Cincinnati Enquirer
Contact:  http://enquirer.com/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/86
Note: Limits LTEs to 100 words
Author: Peggy O'Farrell

PHARMACIES JOIN WAR ON DRUGS

Kentucky and Indiana retailers jump into the battle against those who turn
cold remedies into a potent street drug

Going to the drugstore is about to become more complicated for thousands of
area residents in need of cold and allergy medicine.

The skyrocketing growth of illegal methamphetamine labs has forced Kentucky,
Indiana and nine other states to approve legislation restricting access to
hundreds of popular over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies such as
Sudafed and Claritin-D.

In addition, many major retailers have moved products containing the
decongestant pseudoephedrine -- the must-have ingredient to make meth --
behind pharmacy counters.

The goal is to make it harder for methamphetamine "cookers" to produce the
illegal and highly addictive stimulant. The upshot for consumers is that
they'll have to show identification and will have to limit how much medicine
they can buy. Some consumers interviewed for this story say the
inconvenience will be worth it if the laws mean less meth on the streets.

Beginning June 20, Kentucky residents will be able to buy pseudoephedrine
products only at stores containing pharmacies.

They will be required to show ID and sign a register to get the products,
and they'll be limited to buying about 300 tablets every 30 days.

Indiana legislators approved a similar bill as their session ended in April.
The law, which takes effect July 1, requires pseudoephedrine to be kept
behind pharmacy counters or in a locked cabinet. Customers will have to sign
for it and they'll be limited to buying 3 grams a week.

Ohio lawmakers are considering pseudoephedrine restrictions.

Teresa Porter, 48, of Burlington, has a 25-year-old daughter who battles
allergies every spring and fall.

"It's a shame that it has to come to this, but if it helps, I think it's a
good idea," Porter says. "Maybe they should put it back to a prescription
usage."

Dee Wischer of Fairfield suffers from seasonal allergies.

"Seeing the pharmacist would make it more inconvenient for me," the
56-year-old says. "With the problem they're trying to take care of, though,
I think it's worth it."

Many retailers have imposed their own limits on how much pseudoephedrine
they'll let customers buy at one time. Target and Wal-Mart recently
announced plans to join bigg's in moving pseudoephedrine products behind
pharmacy counters.

The restrictions reflect the explosive growth of methamphetamine use and
production. From 1999 to 2004, meth lab investigations and discoveries in
the Tristate increased more than sevenfold.

Indiana leads the region in methamphetamine lab incidents, according to the
Drug Enforcement Administration. Last year, 1,002 meth lab incidents were
reported in Indiana, compared with 562 in Kentucky and 211 in Ohio.

Nationally, meth lab incidents increased from 7,438 in 1999 to 15,994 in
2004.

Lawmakers and police say the new legislation will inconvenience consumers,
but it's worth it to cut down on meth use and production and the hazards
posed by toxic meth lab sites.

"We relate this to the slight inconvenience you experience when you go to
the airport and have to go through security," says Teresa Barton, executive
director of the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy in Frankfort. "Is
it still worth flying? Absolutely. When you go to the store now and you need
your particular cold or allergy medicine, is it a little inconvenient?
Unfortunately, yes. But you can still get a substantial amount of the
medicine you need."

Methamphetamine is a nightmare for law enforcement: It's cheap and easy to
make. It's highly addictive and can cause violent, paranoid behavior in
users -- many who make it themselves. Meth labs, full of toxic and
potentially explosive materials, cost thousands to clean up when discovered
by authorities.

Limiting access to pseudoephedrine "will cut down quite a bit on the small
dealer-abusers that we see a lot of in this area," says Jim Liles, director
of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, which investigates cases in
Campbell, Kenton, Grant and Boone counties.

Most pharmacies already limit pseudoephedrine sales. Walgreens, Target and
Wal-Mart limit customers to two packages of products that contain the
decongestant.

Moving the products behind the pharmacy counter will cut down on shoplifting
- -- some dealers' method of choice for obtaining the raw ingredient necessary
for methamphetamine. Lack of space might force stores to limit their product
selection, though.

"I anticipate having to make some kind of remodeling project to get those
products behind the counter," says Denise Schickling, pharmacist and owner
of Crestville Drugs in Crescent Springs. "Fitting all those products back
there will be a challenge." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh