STATE EYES YOUR MEDS

Showing ID To Buy Cold Medication Becomes Routine For Hoosiers

Paul Schmidt was shopping at Wal-Mart Supercenter, 3240 S. Western Ave.,
early Thursday morning to buy cold medication.

In his hands was not the actual package of pills, but an index card that
looked like the package of medicine he would buy. He'd have to take that
card to the pharmacist before he could actually get the over-the-counter drug.

That's been a common procedure since July 1, when a law limiting the ease
of purchasing products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine -
ingredients found in common over-the-counter cold and allergy medication
and used in the production of methamphetamine - went into effect.

"I think it's a good idea, I really do," Schmidt said of the law. "Showing
your driver's license, that's the only thing I didn't like about it, but I
don't have my Social Security number on it so it doesn't matter."

Schmidt's reaction to the law was similar to many of the customers who
Urbin Harvey, pharmacist and owner of Medicap Pharmacy, 703 S. Baldwin
Ave., sees in his store.

"Overall, the reaction's been positive," Harvey said. "There's been a few
that have grumbled or growled, but I thought it was pretty well talked
about and discussed and people heard and understood the reasons (behind the
law)."

The 6-month-old law prohibits pharmacies from selling drugs containing
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to customers younger than 18 and in a quantity
more than 3 grams, or about 100 tablets, in one transaction.

The law also requires retailers to store drugs containing ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine behind a counter or in a locked case. Alternatively, the
drugs must be stored directly in front of the pharmacy counter, in the line
of sight of an employee behind the pharmacy counter and in an area under
constant video monitoring.

"It's just been a little bit frustrating (for customers) because it takes a
little bit more time," Harvey said. "I thought there'd be more people
getting irate, but I've been pleasantly surprised."

Many residents, like Angie Hill, Marion, have come to accept the law.

"I guess it just has to be for the people who abuse (the substances)," said
Hill, who was shopping at Wal-Mart on Thursday morning. "There isn't
anything that I can do about it."

Steve Jamison, Converse, was shopping at Walgreens, 2620 S. Western Ave.,
Thursday, and he agreed the law was necessary.

"I don't have a problem with it," he said. "If you need to present
identification to purchase medicine, you shouldn't have a problem with it
if you are doing it legitimately."