Pubdate: Thu, 25 Aug 2005
Source: Free Press, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.midlandfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2613
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

WISER METHODS TO BATTLE METH

If government officials seriously consider any proposal to allow only 
prescription sales of cold and allergy medicines, those elected officials 
should contact their family doctors (if they have one) for brain scans.

Perth County medical officer Dr. Rosana Pellizzari has come out in favour 
of forcing physicians to write prescriptions for such medicines because the 
drugs contain the drug pseudoephedrine -- essential for the production of 
crystal methamphetamines.

Dr. Pellizzari's plan may have a laudable purpose but the massive strain it 
will create on the health-care system and the inconvenience for millions of 
Canadians far outweighs the benefits in the battle against drugs.

Authorities have declared war on cook-ops of the highly addictive drug but 
it makes far more sense to monitor the sale of cold and allergy medications.

Neither the federal or Ontario governments have as of yet supported Dr. 
Pellizzari's plan (any change to drug availability status must come from 
the federal government) nor should they.

Granted, the crystal meth problem is increasing significantly across North 
America.

Despite the potential deadly consequences of meth use, people desperate for 
a drug high can be stoned for 12 hours at a cost of $5.

For a doctor to suggest cold drug sales by prescription is disturbing.

With so many people in Ontario, and the rest of Canada, without a family 
physician, it would be a nightmare every time the sniffles took hold or 
hayfever season kicked in.

To obtain a prescription without a family doctor, would mean a hospital 
visit or a walk-in clinic lineup. This would be an added weight on a 
health-care system which is already seriously over-burdened.

Pharmacists have indicated that they would put such medications behind the 
counter.

To purchase a box or two would require talking to a pharmacist which may be 
beneficial.

A pharmacist can direct a person to the proper "behind-the-counter" 
medicine for a cold, sinus problem or allergy.

Restricting access to pseudoephedrine can aid in the battle against crystal 
meth, however it won't win the war.

Cook operations need to be restricted in the bulk purchase of the chemical.

It's difficult to believe major drug operations rely on a few case of cold 
remedies to cook up a big batch of meth.

Monitoring bulk sales of drug manufacturers should be part of any action on 
this battle against crystal meth.

Making little Billy or grandma jump through doctor-appointment hoops to 
tackle the sniffles is just plain silly.

It would appear that the simpler answer is also the best one.

Try and nail the bulk purchasers who would these materials for illicity use 
and leave the innocent cold-sufferers alone.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman