Pubdate: Wed, 06 Apr 2005
Source: Oak Ridger (TN)
Copyright: 2005 The Oak Ridger
Contact:  http://www.oakridger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1146
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

INCONVENIENCE A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO FIGHT METH

As Tennessee cracks down on production of methamphetamine, some
consumers are finding themselves a bit inconvenienced.

Many common cold remedies were removed from the shelves of convenience
stores or any other retail outlet that doesn't have a pharmacist on
staff.

Specifically, the stores can't sell any tablets that contain either
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. The ban went into effect 24 hours after
the passage and signing of Gov. Phil Bredesen's anti-meth bill.

Tablets containing either of those two ingredients can easily be
cooked to make meth, a drug that is rapidly become one of Tennessee's
biggest problems.

The quick ban is just the first phase of the bill. In 30 days, anyone
buying this type of decongestant at a drug store will have to show the
pharmacist a photo ID and will have to sign your name and provide your
address for a log that will be maintained by the store.

Yes, this does seem like a hassle when taken at face value, but it
will take drastic action to curb meth abuse.

Many Tennesseans are failing to grasp the true magnitude of the
methamphetamine crisis that in some parts of the state already dwarfs
other drug-related problems.

Tennessee is home to 75 percent of the meth labs in the Southeast.
Anything we can do to fight this statistic is in order. Minor
inconvenience now can help methamphetamine from becoming an even
bigger problem in the future.
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MAP posted-by: Derek