Pubdate: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 Source: Burlington Free Press (VT) Copyright: 2006 Burlington Free Press Contact: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) A NECESSARY HASSLE AT THE DRUG COUNTER It's going to be an even bigger pain to get a sniffle in Vermont starting Saturday, when a new state and federal law requires consumers to essentially register their purchase of specific over-the-counter cold remedies. This is a necessary inconvenience -- for shoppers and pharmacists alike -- because an ingredient found in these medications is key in the manufacturing of methamphetamines, addictive drugs with names like crystal ice, crank, speed and black beauties. These drugs can cause brain damage, psychotic behavior, body convulsions, open sores from picking at skin, and death. Methamphetamines are "cooked" in makeshift laboratories and involve highly flammable materials that can ignite, explode and threaten surrounding areas with fire and toxic fumes. Everyone nearby can be at risk, even the innocent. At this point, Vermont is ahead of the threat. It is important to keep that lead. Meth labs have long been a problem in the West and Midwest, but are moving into New England, including New Hampshire, according to published reports. The U.S. Drug Administration reported that only one such operation has been found in Vermont. That's one too many. It's an inconvenience for pharmacists to keep a drug behind the counter, much less to register the name and address of the purchaser and the amount sold, as the new law requires. A few pharmacists have already begun restricting access to the cold medications, while others are awaiting the legal deadline to do so. Given time, however, the market will probably solve this problem on its own. Some drug companies are adjusting their formulas to remove the controversial ingredient and adding labels that read "Does not contain pseudoephedrine." These versions use another ingredient, phenylephrine, which is not an included in a methamphetamine recipe. For now, however, Vermonters will have to be patient with the regulations. This pro-active approach to cracking down on crank is important for Vermont because it is easier to prevent a drug problem from moving in than to solve one after it has arrived. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek