Pubdate: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 Source: Kansas City Star (MO) Copyright: 2004 The Kansas City Star Contact: http://www.kcstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221 Author: John Milburn, Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) ANTI-METH PLAN AIMS AT ALLERGY MEDICATION TOPEKA - Law enforcement officials are considering asking for a restriction on the purchase of certain allergy medications in an effort to reduce the number of methamphetamine labs in the state. Since Oklahoma passed such a law, officials have noticed an increase in the number of customers from that state coming across the border to buy the medications in Kansas, which they then take back to Oklahoma to make meth, said Kyle Smith, a spokesman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. "We're hearing stories about buses pulling up with people piling out to buy two and three packages at a time and heading home," Smith said. The number of meth labs operating in Oklahoma has dropped dramatically since a law restricting the sale of Sudafed tablets passed unanimously during the Legislature's 2004 session. Smith said Kansas could see a 50 percent reduction in the number of meth labs if Kansas lawmakers passed such restrictions. The proposed Kansas law would limit over-the-counter sale of tablets containing psuedoephedrine, the main ingredient in Sudafed and similar allergy medications, and would require that the medication be purchased directly from a pharmacist. Individuals would still be able to purchase the drug off the shelf in the form of gel caps, which contain psuedoephedrine but are more difficult to refine into meth. Members of a meth task force formed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Phill Kline discussed the proposal at a recent meeting and are continuing talks this week at a regional summit in St. Louis. In Oklahoma, those wanting to purchase products containing psuedoephedrine must do so directly from a pharmacist. Customers must show photo identification and sign for the product. Individuals are limited to 9 grams of medication - or about six 24-tablet packages - every 30 days. Scott Rowland, chief counsel for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, said law enforcement statewide has reported a 60 percent drop in the number of labs. In Tulsa, the number of labs seized dropped from 20 in November 2003 to three in November 2004. Similar laws in surrounding states and full compliance by pharmacists will further reduce the making of meth in Oklahoma, Rowland said. "We know the Oklahoma law is working, and not just from the fact they report cutting their lab seizures in half," said Larry Welch, KBI director. Kansas reported 529 meth lab seizures and 438 arrests through Nov. 25. Last year there were 640 arrests and 649 lab seizures. Smith said the numbers have mushroomed since the 1990s with the development of quicker means to produce the drug. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth