Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2005 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2005 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 Author: Phillip Rawls, Associated Press LAW PUTS COLD DRUGS BEHIND THE COUNTER MONTGOMERY -- Starting July 1, buying the decongestants ephedrine and pseudoephedrine will be more difficult for sinus-clogged Alabama consumers. Gov. Bob Riley signed legislation Tuesday that places restrictions on the sale of the popular cold medicines to try to stem what he called an epidemic of methamphetamine production in Alabama. Tablets in which ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the sole active ingredients are being used in meth labs to make the illegal drug. "There is an epidemic going on in Alabama today, and it's a man-made epidemic," Riley said at a bill-signing ceremony. Starting July 1, the legislation requires that the tablets in which ephedrine or pseudoephedrine is the sole active ingredient must be kept behind the counter or in a locked display case in stores statewide. Anyone wanting to purchase the tablets will have to present identification and sign for the medication. Only two packages can be purchased at a time. Tablets that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with other active ingredients will either have to be behind the counter, in a locked case or under constant video surveillance. Purchasers won't have to show an ID or sign for these. State Sen. Lowell Barron, a pharmacist who helped guide the bill through the Senate on the last night of the legislative session May 16, said there are less restrictions on the combination drugs and there are no restrictions on the liquid form of the drugs because they are much harder for methamphetamine manufacturers to break down. "These are not the most sophisticated folks," Barron, D-Fyffe, said. Lee County District Attorney Nick Abbett said some methamphetamine comes into Alabama from Mexico, but most of it is made by users in home labs for themselves and a few other people. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh