FIGHTING CRYSTAL METH NEEDS AN ALL-OUT EFFORT

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association is to be commended for its
efforts to combat the use of crystal meth.

The illegal drug is highly addictive and toxic to the body. It has
spread rapidly throughout the U.S. and the Canadian West, and
pharmacists plan to work with law enforcement, the provincial
government and high schools to stop the spread of its use.

Their suggestion of a two-pronged approach -- restricting the sale of
common cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine and educating
teenagers on the danger of crystal meth use -- is a sound one.

In a recent editorial, The Standard called for increased penalties for
those who make and distribute the drug. The efforts of the
pharmacists' association also represent important strategies in
combatting the use of crystal meth.

The drug is made from solvents, paint thinners, battery acid and the
common decongestant pseudoephedrine. All of these substances are easy
to purchase, but it is pseudoephedrine in particular that pharmacists
will focus upon.

One of the ideas proposed is to monitor the sale of over-the-counter
cold and allergy remedies that contain pseudo-ephedrine.

Health Minister George Smitherman has even suggested requiring a
prescription for those drugs.

That's ridiculous and unworkable. With the physician shortage we face
in Ontario, how many patients would ever get a chance to even see
their doctor to get a prescription for cough medicine?

And can you imagine what that would do to health-care
costs?

Other suggestions, such as placing cold and allergy medication in
front of the dispensary or behind the counter, are well-intentioned
but impose needless obstacles on the vast majority of law-abiding
citizens who simply want relief from nasal congestion.

The best way to prevent pseudoephedrine from falling into the wrong
hands is to substitute another chemical in the over-the-counter cold
remedies. Several drug companies are already discussing doing so.

But as Ontario Pharmacists' Association vice-president Donnie Edwards
says, focusing on legitimate cold and allergy medication is only part
of the battle. The Port Colborne druggist says his association wants
to start an outreach program in the province's high schools in October.

The goal would be to educate teens about the dangers of crystal meth.
That is a practical and inexpensive way to prevent some vulnerable
teens from trying the drug.

The drug has had a devastating effect upon its users wherever it has
been distributed. But we have a chance in Ontario to prevent crystal
meth from gaining a strong foothold through the combined efforts of
law enforcement, the courts, pharmacists and educators.

Education, in particular, is key. It's likely those who become drug
abusers will do so regardless of the substance they ingest.

But perhaps we can prevent them from becoming addicted to something as
destructive to the mind and body as crystal meth.