Pubdate: Thu, 05 Oct 2006
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2006 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Carey Hamilton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DEA TAKING AIM AT METH

Living in close quarters with other students, University of Utah 
freshman Hailey Cloninger often gets colds and sinus infections that 
are spreading through her dormitory. She is irked that she will now 
have to get her preferred medicine, Sudafed, from a pharmacist 
because of new federal regulations that went into effect this week.

The Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] is requiring pharmacies to 
keep cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind the 
counter and limit their sales, citing worries about people who use it 
to make the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

"I think it's overkill," said the 18-year-old, who is studying to 
become a pharmacist. "I think they should monitor who buys a lot of 
it. But I get colds a lot, and I'm not trying to make meth."

Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant found in such popular drugs 
as Sudafed, Claritin-D, Allegra-D and Contac.

Part of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, the law took 
effect on Sunday, allowing the sale of pseudoephedrine only from 
locked cabinets or behind counters. It also limits the monthly amount 
anyone can purchase to about three boxes, requires customers to 
present photo identification to buy such medications, and requires 
retailers to keep personal information about those customers for at 
least two years.

Enforcement, however, is a step behind. For now, stores may choose to 
create linked electronic logs, but only written logs at individual 
stores are required.

Mark Destito, assistant special agent in charge of Utah for the DEA, 
hopes within a year to have regulatory investigators visit all Utah 
pharmacies and copy their log books. Those entries would then be 
entered into a database, which is still being developed.

The new rules are causing headaches for many pharmacists, who find 
keeping such detailed records time consuming.

At Smith's Food & Drug Center outlets, customers are notified at the 
shelf where they used to find the products that the items are now at 
the pharmacy, and they take over a slip of paper that identifies what 
they want. Pharmacists use an on-line log that tracks customers' 
purchase history. If it indicates the customer's purchase does not 
exceed limits on quantity, they can complete the transaction.

Customers fill out and sign a paper log sheet and must pay for the 
product at the pharmacy.

"Our industry was not in favor of this change because we see it as a 
barrier to good customer service," said Smith's spokeswoman Marsha 
Gilford. "But it's done, and we will comply with the law.

"These products have proven to be effective relief, so most customers 
are willing to go through these newly required steps to obtain them."

Some companies have or are in the process of re-formulating the 
brands, using an older ingredient called phenylephrine. But it has 
drawbacks, some experts say.

"It is not nearly as effective and does not last as long" as 
pseudoephedrine, said Charles Burnett, senior vice president and 
manager for Costco's pharmacy division. Like many companies, Costco 
began placing limits on the number of packages customers could buy 
before the new federal regulations.

"About five years ago a [DEA] agent called me and said they raided a 
meth lab," Burnett said. "They found a bag full of our brand of 
pseudoephedrine boxes. So we started limiting it to two packages at a 
time and keeping track of who was buying it." Before that, people 
would come in and buy the drugs in bulk and no one would question it, he added.

In August 2005, Rite Aid began placing such cold drugs behind the 
counter at its 3,300 stores, 30 of which are in Utah.

While many states had adopted their own regulations in advance of the 
federal change, Utah law did not previously regulate sales of the products.

"We wanted to be a good corporate citizen and cut down on abuse," 
Rite Aid spokeswoman Jody Cook said. "We've had positive feedback 
from customers who are worried about combatting meth abuse."

Police believe the regulations are having an impact, combined with 
increased trafficking from Mexico.

In Emery County, police haven't found a meth lab in more than a year, 
said John Barnett, a detective on the county's drug task force.

"Around here, I don't think [the new regulations are] going to slow 
[meth use] from what it is now," Barnett said.

But Keith Millett, commander of the Iron/Garfield Counties Narcotics 
Task Force, said meth use is as prevalent as ever in his counties, 
despite the fact police have not found a meth lab in two years.

"In the overall picture, it's good," Millett said of the regulations, 
"but the everyday freedoms we enjoy are kind of lost."

Some pharmacists feel the government overstepped its bounds, causing 
inconvenience for consumers and them alike.

"It's the hassle of having to document everything," said Evan 
Stapley, owner of Stapley Pharmacy in St. George. "The sad thing is 
the pharmacists are being put into a position of being the enforcers."

After buying Sudafed at a Salt Lake City Walgreen's Drug Store on 
Wednesday, Cati Dallas said the new policy is an invasion of privacy.

"I hate it," she said. "I don't want them cooking meth on my street 
either. But it takes that trust out of society."

Tribune reporter NATE CARLISLE contributed to this report.

About The New Pseudoephedrine Restrictions

* What are the new restrictions? To buy medicines containing 
pseudoephedrine, which now are kept behind the counter, consumers 
must show photo identification and provide their name, address and 
telephone number. The date, name of the product and amount purchased 
will be recorded.

* What products are covered? Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient 
in cold and allergy relief products. Some brand names: Sudafed, 
Claritin-D, Allegra-D and Contac.

* Why are some versions of these products still on the shelves? 
Companies are voluntarily re-formulating their products to exclude 
restricted ingredients. Some products now use an older ingredient, 
phenylephrine, which pharmacists say some consumers may find is not 
as effective.

* How much pseudoephedrine can I buy? The daily limit is 3.6 grams, 
which typically is two packages. The monthly purchase limit is 9 
grams per customer.

* For more information, visit 
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/meth/index.html. Source: Tribune 
reporting, Drug Enforcement Administration.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman