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May 02, 2005

Say What? Behind the Counter?

Oh good - another example of people wanting to regulate practically every freakin aspect of your life in the name of 'protecting you'

Group Pushes Restricting of Cold Medicine

WASHINGTON - An association representing more than 36,000 pharmacies is issuing guidelines for possible federal legislation to restrict sales of cold medications containing a substance often used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine — or "speed."

Pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient in a number of over-the-counter drugs like Sudafed, Nyquil and Sinutab, can be extracted by boiling down the cold medicines; toxic chemicals are then used to turn the substance into highly concentrated meth.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, moving to avoid a hodgepodge of state laws, is calling for an overarching federal law that would require that such products be kept behind the pharmacy counter and sold only by a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy personnel.

Purchases should be limited to 9 grams — or 366 30-milligram pills — in 30 days, the association says.

The guidelines also suggest that drugstores be required to keep written or electronic logs of all pseudoephedrine purchases to assist law enforcement efforts.

Ain't this great? Not only do you have to stand in line to get something for the creeping crud, but they'll want to know exactly who you are.

Oh and here's something that's really possible: if pharmacy's have to start stacking this stuff behind the counter, who do you think will be paying the extra money for the stock clerks and pharmacy techs to do this?? It sure as hell won’t be Sav-On or Walgreens - it'll be you.

I understand the reasoning behind this - San Diego was at one point (and maybe still is today?) known as the crystal meth capital of the world. Believe me - we've got a TON of crystal freaks, mostly out in the East County and in the South Bay. You don't need to impress upon me the need to crack down (no pun intended) on this crap, but this is ridiculous.

Just another example of trying to deal with a problem by regulating the crap out of everything slighly associated with it. Now where did I put my 14 cases of Vicks.....?

|| , 08:29 AM || Permalink || Comments (4) || Add your comment

Comments on Say What? Behind the Counter?

Oh good - another example of people wanting to regulate practically every freakin aspect of your life in the name of 'protecting you'

Sort of like... the 'Real ID'...

|| Posted by scroff, May 2, 2005 09:41 AM ||

Ouch.

Can't say I see your point in the comparison, but I'll give you the touché...

|| Posted by Mad Mikey, May 2, 2005 09:48 AM ||

To play the pessimistic role, won't this likely lead to speed junkies attempting to rob pharmacies in order to get their hands on more pseudophedrine?
Sort of like the oxycontin robbery streak that plagued MA a couple of years back.

|| Posted by jaws, May 2, 2005 07:39 PM ||

A wierd slant here. Say someone gets busted with a bit of Meth, let him/her go, just give them an ounce first, law enforcement regularly burns the stuff, end result: they code out in one week, or two.

|| Posted by Ron, May 3, 2005 01:30 PM ||

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May 02, 2005

Say What? Behind the Counter?

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