Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2005 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) PHARMACISTS FIGHTING METH LABS Oklahoma Drug Stores Show More Paperwork Is No Big Deal When Gov. Joe Manchin proposed that the state adopt an Oklahoma law to fight methamphetamine labs, Richard Stevens, a lobbyist for the West Virginia Pharmacists Association, said that will drive up the cost of all drugs. The bill would place certain over-the-counter medications behind the counter because they contain a small amount of a very potent drug used in the manufacture of meth. "You can only have registered technicians behind the counter, so these are the higher-paid positions in a pharmacy," Stevens told the Daily Mail's Jim Wallace. "Then you've got the inventory control. You've got your reporting to distributors and wholesalers. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is involved there. Then you have to do the reporting of each transaction to the repository." Despite the rise in costs, Stevens and many pharmacists support the governor's efforts to combat meth. "Innocent people are getting hurt, and lives are being destroyed," said Barbara Smith, a pharmacist at Staats Pharmacy in Spencer. "It would seem to be at epidemic proportions right now. I do feel there needs to be control of it somehow to track sales." This week, pharmacists from Oklahoma made their pitch to lawmakers. "It requires a little paperwork, but it's not a big deal," said Dani Lynch, owner of Thrifty Pharmacy in Oklahoma City. "We think it's a wonderful thing. It has reduced our meth labs considerably, and we want to push it onto other states." Their decision to lobby for a bill that increases their paperwork and their expenses is a refreshing change of pace. Businesses usually complain about regulation, and with good cause. But some rules are necessary. If the local drug store has to pay a little more or loses a sales or two because of this proposal, so be it. After all, the fellow for whom the Trooper Nik Green Act was named paid with his life when a meth addict killed him during a raid. The pharmacists are doing the right thing in campaigning for this bill. The Legislature should, too. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom