Pubdate: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://torontosun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Steve Bovair Note: Headline by newshawk, parenthetical remark by the Sun editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) RESTRICTING ACCESS TO COLD MEDICATIONS WILL CREATE NEW PROBLEMS The Ontario government is considering a potential requirement of a prescription for cold medications such as Sudafed, Contac or any medication containing pseudoephedrine (to curb the production of crystal meth). So, this means someone with a simple runny nose during cold season would have to wait 10 or more days to see their family doctor in order to get a prescription for Actifed? That is, assuming they can even get a family doctor. Then what is that going to do to the cost once you add in the dispensing fee? In case someone hasn't noticed, there are borders to the west, east and south of Ontario where Tylenol cold medicine could be purchased. Criminals surely would not figure that out, would they? The proliferation of crystal meth is a very serious issue. However, making it difficult for the general public in Ontario to access pseudoephedrine is only going to create new problems. Criminals will get their grimy hands on it somehow. Restricting access is only going to add an aggressive and violent element to them doing so. Steve Bovair Burlington (So the solution is...?) - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom