Pubdate: Sat, 19 Oct 2002
Source: Wichita Eagle (KS)
Copyright: 2002 The Wichita Eagle
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/680
Website: http://www.wichitaeagle.com/
Author: Hurst Laviana, The Wichita Eagle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa)

DEA CHIEF: LIMIT COLD-DRUG SALES

In A Visit To Wichita, Asa Hutchinson Says A Restriction On The Sale Of 
Cold Medications Would Curb Meth Problems.

The United States must limit the sale of over-the-counter cold medicine if 
it is going to win the war against methamphetamine, DEA chief Asa 
Hutchinson said Friday during a visit to Wichita.

Hutchinson said he supported federal legislation that would restrict the 
sale of pseudoephedrine, a drug in some cold medicines that is used to make 
meth.

Hutchinson's comments came during a City Hall news conference where Rep. 
Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, presented an $803,000 grant to Wichita Police Chief 
Norman Williams.

Police said the money would be used for a meth-lab investigation truck, a 
bomb-handling robot and other officer safety equipment.

Although some retail outlets already restrict the sale of cold medicine, 
several law enforcement officers attending the news conference said cases 
of the drugs are commonly sold in some parts of Kansas.

Hutchinson said limiting cold medicine purchases to three packages at a 
time would cut into the amount of the drug that is produced.

After the news conference, Hutchinson met with police and school and mental 
health workers to discuss prevention and intervention methods that can be 
used to curb the use of meth.

The DEA said Kansas ranks fourth in the nation in the number of meth labs 
seized. They say many are run by people who get meth-making instructions 
from the Internet.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D