Pubdate: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Martin Cash CRYSTAL METH CRACKDOWN Province's $6-m Strategy Will Put Cold Remedies Behind Counter COLD remedy products such as Sudafed will be moved behind pharmacists' counters under a new government plan to fight crystal meth. In the next month the cold remedy and 16 others containing the most crucial ingredient used in the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine - -- a dangerous and highly addictive drug -- will only be available if dispensed by a pharmacist, and sales will be restricted to two packages per person. It is part of a $6-million, multi-pronged strategy announced by the province yesterday to combat the use of crystal meth. A similar program restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine products was announced yesterday by the Saskatchewan government. B.C. also announced it is going to start monitoring the bulk sale of cold medicines and then determine if the sale of common cold remedies needs to be regulated. The Manitoba plan will include a public education program, training of front-line service providers and enhanced enforcement measures. In announcing the Manitoba Meth Task Force, Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh said that although crystal meth may not be seen as a critical problem in Manitoba today, preventive action needs to be taken "to get ahead of the curve." "Manitobans need to embrace the message," Mackintosh said. "Don't try this drug, not even once." To bolster the message, North Dakota attorney general Wayne Stenehjem was in Winnipeg to testify that recent restrictions on the sale of pseudoephedrine products in North Dakota have led to a dramatic decline in the number of crystal meth labs in the state. "Last year in the month of October we took down 34 labs in North Dakota," he said. "This year in October we took down only one in the entire state of North Dakota." Mackintosh said there have been no labs dismantled this year in Manitoba, but historically there are four or five a year. Lyall Meyers, the pharmacist/owner of Meyers Drugs on William Avenue in Winnipeg's core, said he has kept pseudoephedrine products behind the counter for many years. "Our store is different," he said. "We have been aware of the issue for 20 years and we have imposed a limit on things like this for many years." Ronald Guse of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association said he understands that such action is considered to be necessary and that pharmacists are prepared to become part of the solution. "We understand the idea of prevention and enforcement and treatment required to deal with this issue that appears to have a stranglehold on society," he said. "Pharmacists are used to this type of product restriction." He said there is a number of medicines, designated as Schedule 2, that do not require a prescription but must be dispensed by pharmacists, such as products with low amounts of codeine, for instance. Lanny McInnes, the Retail Council of Canada's representative in Manitoba, said that he believes restricting the sale of products won't make a difference. "Our members take this very seriously and are concerned about the issue and they are already taking steps to report suspicious purchases of cold remedies," he said. "But we don't support the restriction of product placement in stores." But Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen believes that crystal meth is a serious enough problem to warrant this type of measure. "I think this is a good start," Goertzen said. "I have been calling for the governments to control the sale of pseudoephedrine since March... these things must be stopped." The Manitoba Meth Task Force will be co-chaired by 29-year Winnipeg police veteran Insp. Keith McCaskill and Yvonne Block, director of Mental Health and Addiction at Manitoba Health. - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)