Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2006 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Kevin Rollason SOME COLD REMEDIES HEADING BEHIND COUNTER Pharmacists' Group OK's Anti-Meth Move STEPS to restrict access to remedies that spell cold and flu relief for adults and children will now give headaches to illegal crystal meth drug manufacturers. Manitoba's pharmacists voted unanimously at a special meeting on Wednesday night to agree to the provincial government's strategy of restricting the sale of 17 single-source pseudoephedrine products by putting them behind the counter at pharmacies. The pharmacists also voted to restrict the amount sold at any one time to 3,600 milligrams, or an average of about 60 tablets. Pseudoephedrine is a key component used to illegally manufacture crystal meth. Restricting access to the drug is part of the province's $6-million, three-year plan to restrict supply and reduce demand for crystal meth here. It also means that many stores where Manitobans buy these drugs, which include some popular products like Sudafed Decongestant 12-hour caplet, can no longer sell them. But Stan Halbesma, owner of Harry's Food on Portage Avenue, said he's not unhappy that his customers will have to go to a drugstore if they want the affected cold and flu remedies. "I'm 100 per cent behind this decision," Halbesma said yesterday. "I'm not always in agreement with government decisions, but I am with this one. It's such a terrible, terrible, scary problem with youth and society that it has to take precedence over business." Crystal methamphetamine, or crystal meth for short, is a highly addictive and potentially lethal drug that currently is more prevalent in the Prairie provinces than the rest of the country. A series of Free Press stories late last year found the prime ingredients needed to make crystal meth were still easily available in Winnipeg, even though the federal government enacted tougher rules in 2003 restricting their sale. The Free Press investigation also found making crystal meth is easy using a stovetop and some specialized equipment once you have pseudoephedrine. Last month, the province joined Saskatchewan and Alberta to force pharmacists to take certain cold remedies out of their aisles and behind their counters. Ontario and British Columbia are considering similar actions. Theresa Oswald, the province's healthy living minister, said she's pleased the pharmacists agreed with the province on the need to restrict the drug's sale. "It was in many aspects a formality," Oswald admitted. "There are 17 products which will now be restricted. But the door for us is not closed -- if we find cookers become sophisticated enough to use multi-ingredient ones we'll take a look at restricting those." Ron Guse, registrar of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, said Jan. 15 is the date picked for non-pharmacies to stop selling the remedies. Guse said non-pharmacies can still sell cold and flu remedies that include multiple-entity pseudoephedrine products because the single-entity ones are the "more desirable" ones used by illegal labs at this time. "Hopefully this will prevent a problem from blossoming," he said. Guse said people with colds or flus who only need a decongestant should go to the drugstore counter and ask for a single-entity pseudoephedrine product, while those with other symptoms should grab a multiple-entity one from the shelves. Don't Look for These on the Shelves The cold and flu products that will only be sold behind the counter at a pharmacy starting Jan. 15 include: * Drixoral ND long-acting tab * Benylin D for Infants * Sudafed Decongestant Children's Chewable Tablet * Sudafed Decongestant Extra Strength Tablet * Non-drowsy Regular Strength Contac Cold 12 hour * Triaminic Pediatric Oral Cold Drops -- 7.5 mg/0.8 ml - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake