Pubdate: Fri, 04 Feb 2005
Source: Manchester Times (TN)
Copyright: Manchester Times 2005
Contact:  http://www.manchestertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1863
Author: Linda Barr
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ALTERNATIVE TO SUDAFED MAY NOT CURB 'METH' PRODUCTION

The release by a major drug company of an alternative to Sudafed may not 
necessarily curb meth production, but it could be a step in the right 
direction. In a move to offer an alternative to the decongestant Sudafed, 
which contains pseudoephedrine, an ingredient necessary in the production 
of methamphetamine, Phizer Inc. has announced that it would release Sudafed 
PE in the United States this month.

The new alternative, just as effective in relieving congestion as its 
predecessor according to area pharmacists, contains the active ingredient 
phenylephrine, which cannot be converted into meth.

Sudafed PE has been available in Phizer products in Europe since 2003, and 
state officials are questioning why it took so long to offer the new remedy 
in Tennessee, a state plagued by meth abuse.

Local pharmacies have already begun placing Sudafed and other medications 
containing pseudoephedrine, or ephedrine, behind store counters, and have 
changed their practices to closely scrutinize purchases of these products.

Tennessee leads the nation in meth lab seizures and accounts for 
three-quarters of all busts made in the south. According to figures 
released recently by the South/East Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, 
Coffee County ranked seventh among Tennessee's 95 counties in the number of 
meth lab seizures from Jan. 1 2004 until October of the same year. Bradley 
County topped that list.

Richard Randolph, a pharmacist at Marcrom's Pharmacy, said Phizer is 
utilizing the Sudafed name with Sudafed PE although the alternative does 
not contain the active ingredient found in its counterpart.

"I bet you money, it will be a big mover," he said.

The release of Sudafed PE may be a step in the right direction, but 
Randolph is not convinced that offering an alternative will "throw a cog in 
the wheel" of meth production.

"I'm surprised it will be over the counter. I don't know of any other 
product over the counter containing this ingredient (phenylephrine)."

Randolph said the active ingredients in Sudafed and Sudafed PE are the only 
two effective oral decongestants on the market. Pseudoephedrine, which can 
be converted into meth, is available in a myriad of other remedies (more 
than 4,000 products), such as Schering Plough's Claritin-D and Phizer's 
Actifed.

He does believe that Sudafed will be moved behind store counters when the 
alternative is released. The clerks at Marcrom's know to watch for patterns 
of excessive purchases of all medications kept behind the counter.

But Randolph is concerned any benefit from the Sudafed alternative would be 
short-lived, even if all the other drug companies follow suit.

"The people are smart. They will find a way to get around it," he said.

The pharmacy has already moved iodine behind the counter, the only other 
ingredient in the store that is commonly used in meth production.

Billy Cook, the director of the Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, based 
out of the 14th Judicial District Attorney's office in Manchester, believes 
the only way to stop meth would be to outlaw production of ephedrine or 
pseudoephedrine.

About six years ago, he said phenylpropanolamine, the active ingredient in 
Dexatrim, also a decongestant, was pulled from the market due to its 
serious side effects.

"Ephedrine is such a cheap, readily-sold product. It is marketed all across 
the country and there are so many different ways to purchase it.

"I'll just have to sit back and watch and see what effect it has," Cook said.

He said Tennessee is considering the passage of legislation that would 
force all ephedrine-containing products off the shelves and behind the 
counters in pharmacies.

"I'm more hopeful for that. I think it would help a great deal.

"The profit these drug companies make by selling it is so huge. And it does 
have a legitimate medical purpose.

"If all the other companies follow suit, they'll (meth cookers) be ordering 
it off the Internet from Canada or Mexico," Cook said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth