The Senate renewed the Patriot Act last week, sparking discussion and debate about balancing civil liberties and national security. But the same bill that renewed the Patriot Act contained something that has garnered less media attention than those involving wiretapping or warrants: the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, a provision mandating that medicines containing pseudoephedrine - from which meth is made - be stored behind drugstore counters and limiting the amount of pseudoephedrine-containing medications individuals can purchase each month. The act also gives the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency the power to seize the sales records of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers. In this installment of "By the Numbers," the Daily explores that provision, as well as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) review that was released only hours prior to the provision's being passed.

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