Pubdate: Thu, 08 Sep 2005
Source: Stratford City Gazette, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Stratford City Gazette
Contact: http://www.metroland.com/sw/customerservice/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.metroland.com/sw/news/stratford/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3716
Author: Tori Sutton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METHWATCH STARTS IN PERTH COUNTY

A program aimed at monitoring the purchase of cold medicines used in the 
production of methamphetamine has been launched in Perth County.

Local stores have signed onto MethWatch, a program which trains pharmacy 
staff to spot unusually large purchases of medicines containing 
pseudoephedrine. Repeat customers, or those purchasing the products in 
bulk, will be reported to local law enforcement officials or to the RCMP, 
through a special 1-800 tip hotline.

Originally launched in Kansas, the program is used across the United States 
and more recently in British Columbia.

As a "hot spot" for methamphetamine production, Perth has been chosen as 
the first implementation point for the program in Ontario.

"Stratford is the first community to identify having home labs producing 
crystal methamphetamine in Ontario," said Donnie Edwards, vice-president of 
the Ontario Pharmacists' Association, in an interview at Sinclair's 
Pharmacy last Thursday.

"This is the first hotbed in Ontario for crystal meth."

While the program was founded by the Consumer Healthcare Products 
Association - a group representing non-prescription drug manufacturers - 
others, including the RCMP, have become involved.

There are no set guidelines under MethWatch. Pharmacists decide whether to 
place limits on how many packages of cold medication a person can purchase 
at one time. Others opt to move the product to a highly visible shelf, 
often right in front of the pharmacy.

A topic of great debate, some have suggested cold medications containing 
the sought-after ingredients be available only by prescription. However, 
with a shortage of family doctors, Edwards fears it would further strain 
the healthcare system.

"It really increases the burden," he said. "The pharmacists are the drug 
experts. We have to look at the bigger picture."

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association has recently endorsed the program as 
part of its policy on illegal and addictive drugs.

"The MethWatch is just one of them - we have an educational component which 
we are in the process of developing and implementing," said Edwards.

Using the resources from the Drug Information and Resource Centre, the 
Pharmacists' Association is working to develop the curriculum which will be 
presented to students Grade 7 and up. While meth is a serious problem, the 
program is expected to cover a variety of drugs, especially popular and 
dangerous drugs like Oxycontin and ecstacy.

"With their expertise we are developing a program that will allow 
pharmacists in any community to go speak to school-aged children on drug 
use and abuse," he said.

Though the MethWatch program should help spotting those purchasing 
ingredients to make meth, Edwards said educating children on the dangers of 
the drug is important and he points to the success of the "Speed Kills" 
campaign in the '70s.

"We almost want that campaign back now. Speed does kill and crystal meth 
not only kills, but tears apart families and communities."

Mayor Dan Mathieson said he was pleased to see the MethWatch program 
establishing itself in the community.

"This is very encouraging," said Mathieson, who expects a resolution to 
come forward at Monday's council meeting to endorse the program.

But MethWatch isn't the only program Mathieson hopes council will throw its 
support behind. An RCMP initiative, ChemWatch, will help monitor the other 
chemicals used to make meth, such as fertilizers.

"Based on some of the changes and a renewed strategy between these two 
groups, I think they can be very effective in both sectors to help 
eliminate some of the issues that would precipitate this drug problem," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman