Pubdate: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA) Copyright: 2005 Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460 Author: Judy Kroeger PHARMACIES REGULATE METH INGREDIENT Whether from nasal congestion caused by allergies, colds or the flu, a popular decongestant called pseudoephedrine provides relief without the drowsiness often associated with antihistamines. Unfortunately, pseudoephedrine can be used as an ingredient in methamphetamine, an illegal drug. To stem the tide of meth manufacturing, the U.S. Senate in September approved a bill limiting how much cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine people may buy and requiring them to show photo identification and sign a log. The U.S. House has not passed similar legislation as yet. Pennsylvania's General Assembly is working on legislation to limit sales to people who are 18 years-old or older, but no restrictions are in place. However, many stores have already adopted voluntary regulations regarding the sale of "single entity" pseudoephedrine products, those that only have the decongestant as its primary ingredient. Other products that combine pain killers, cough suppressant or other ingredients with the decongestant, are not regulated. However, many stores have already adopted regulations. Wal-Mart's company-wide police limits all customers' purchases of products containing pseudoephedrine as its only active ingredient to three per visit. Pharmacy employees are told to ask customers for identification proving they are 18 years old or older. Wal-Mart keeps plastic cards showing the picture of the product on the shelves in place of the actual product. Customers take the card to the pharmacist and are then directed to a nearby shelf. At all Eckerd Drug stores, customers take a printed version of the drug's label to the pharmacist. Locally-owned stores have varied policies. At Martin's in Connellsville, all single-entity pseudoephedrine products are behind the pharmacy counter. John Holonich, pharmacy manager, said that these pills are behind the pharmacy counter "to prevent theft. Combination products are on the shelf." At Pechin's in Dunbar Township, pseudoephedrine products are not behind a counter, but "they are by the pharmacy and easily watched," said Beth Means, store manager. The Connellsville Shop 'n Save keeps pseudoephedrine products on the shelf, as does Healthland in Connellsville. "It doesn't surprise me that the drug stores are having some issues (with decongestant sales) because it is voluntary right now," said Rob Quigley, executive director of Drug Free Pennsylvania. According to the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, methamphetamine can be made from commonly available household products such as lye, lithium batteries, rock salt and pseudoephedrine. In 2004, the DEA, state and local officials seized 106 methamphetamine labs statewide. The DEA seized 4.1 kilograms of methamphetamine that same year, compared to 173.8 kilograms of cocaine and 14.3 kilograms of heroin. Most seized methamphetamine labs were located in rural areas in northwestern Pennsylvania and the Pocono mountains. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman