Pubdate: Fri, 12 Aug 2005
Source: Register-Herald, The (Beckley, WV)
Copyright: 2005 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.register-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Amelia A. Pridemore
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

LAW ENFORCEMENT - THE NEW METH LAW IS WORKING

After just one month, law enforcement officials report a new law that
limits purchases of methamphetamine's main ingredient is already
working to combat meth labs.

Since July 8, consumers have been restricted in the amount of
pseudoephedrine-laced medicines - common cold and allergy medicines -
they could buy. The intent of the new law was to aid in the fight
against methamphetamine, a cheap and easy-to-make drug that can cause
more damage to the brain than alcohol, heroin or cocaine.

The items to make meth can be purchased at just about any drug or
department store. The new state law makes the primary ingredient,
pseudoephedrine, much harder to obtain because it limits sales of the
medicines to 9 grams - or about 300 30 milligram pills - in a 30-day
period. Buyers must make the purchase from a pharmacist or pharmacy
technician, show a government-issued photo ID and sign a log.

Law enforcement officials report the law is serving its
purpose.

While his office receives reports of meth lab operation on a constant
basis, TRIDENT drug task force coordinator Ron Booker said complaints
have been reduced.

"I'm sure we're going to find another lab some day, but as of now, the
complaints have gone down," he said.

Because those who purchase the pseudoephedrine-laced medicines must
now show identification, those who want to manufacture methamphetamine
are likely becoming very hesitant to purchase large quantities of
medication, Booker said. Some pharmacies have already begun alerting
law enforcement officials to those who purchase large quantities of
pseudoephedrine and have blocked sales of the product to some customers.

Tracking purchases means that more people could face criminal charges
if a meth lab is found. Booker said those who buy the large quantities
of pseudoephedrine for a meth lab operator or someone working at a
pharmacy ignoring the new law could be arrested, and tracking
purchases makes it easier for law enforcement to find those
responsible.

"The pharmacies have been very cooperative in helping us take care of
these problems," he said. "Fighting drugs does take everyone."

Raleigh County Sheriff Danny Moore believes in the law's
effectiveness, and like Booker, believes pharmacies have been
extremely cooperative with law enforcement in their efforts to
eradicate meth labs. He hopes the law will help West Virginia before
it is too late.

"I saw on the national news where meth has reached epidemic
proportions in the West and it's coming further east," he said. "...
Every state needs to pay attention to the law we have here now. It's
become a problem for law enforcement all over the country."

Booker agreed.

"Law enforcement in the West has been worn out much longer than we
have."

Some flaws do exist in the law, Moore acknowledged. West Virginia
borders five other states to which a meth lab operator could go to
purchase more pseudoephedrine.

At this point, the sheriff's department is not planning any undercover
operations, similar to those done by the state Alcoholic Beverage
Control Administration using underage operatives, to try to purchase
more than the legal limit from a pharmacy counter, Moore said. This is
because of the good pharmacy cooperation so far. However, if the
sheriff's department does receive reports of improper dispensing of
pseudoephedrine-laced medicines, it may do so.

Patty Johnston, owner and pharmacist at Colony Drug in Beckley, said
she has received no customer complaints about the new law and that at
her store, people buying large quantities of pseudoephedrine-laced
medicines has not been a problem. She said larger, chain stores are
probably the ones that have the bigger problems because they have a
larger quantity of medicine in general on the shelves.

"We're like the Cheers bar where everyone knows your name," she
noted.

However, some of her customers have been leery of purchasing the
pseudoephedrine-laced medicines because of the law, and have purchased
more phenylephrine medicines, nasal decongestants that have been on
the market for years that are safe alternatives.

"I think the law is a good idea," she said. "The drug itself
(pseudoephedrine) is effective and safe, but it is a key ingredient
for meth. ... As long as it does no harm to legitimate consumers, it's
fine with me."
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