PHARMACISTS SAY BILL IS A POSITIVE STEP

Proposal To Put Some Cold Medicines Behind Counter Gets Favorable Response

While local West Virginia pharmacists say putting some cold medications
behind the counter will inconvenience many legitimate customers, they
maintain it's a positive step in the war against methamphetamine.

Pharmacist Ric Griffith, owner of Griffith & Feil Drug Store in Kenova,
said abuse of over-the-counter drugs has destroyed many promising lives in
his community.

"I applaud (Gov. Joe Manchin) and the Legislature for trying to attack this
issue," he said. "As with any complex issue, I don't think there will be
any quick fix. To me, it will help. It's all we can do to stem this tide
of misuse."

Griffith, who's also a Kenova councilman, said the bill will ensure that
medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, the main ingredients
necessary to manufacture meth, will be beyond reach of meth makers and addicts.

Pharmacist Joe McGlothlin, owner of the Medicine Shoppe in Huntington,
reacted similarly.

"First I thought it would be cumbersome to have to sign a log book and keep
track," he said. "But this thing has become a national issue. The more I
see, the more I think it will be a good law.

"If we stop the transfer of ephedrine into the wrong hands, we can put a
big dent into it."

Wayne pharmacist Amos LeMaster, who has owned Wayne Pharmacy for some 40
years, said misuse of medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
has not been problematic at his business.

"We know everyone who comes in," he said. "When you have a stranger, it
puts you on your toes."

Still, LeMaster said the bill to put some cold medications behind the
counter should be helpful.

"It probably will be in larger areas," he said. "We carry a small inventory
(of cold medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine)."

Troy Whaley, a pharmacist at Safescript Pharmacy in Huntington, said his
business only offers drugs by prescription, but said he supports the new
state bill.

"If it's causing a problem, I think it's a good idea," he said.

Griffith said it is unfortunate that many legitimate users will be
inconvenienced by the misuse of a few.

"The shame of the whole thing is it's a good medication to help people with
common colds and allergies," he said. "They and all of society will have to
suffer for the misuse and abuse of drugs."

Additionally, Griffith said keeping ephedrine- and
pseudoephedrine-containing medications behind the counter will help cut
financial losses.

"We noticed that not only were they being purchased for misuse, they were
being shoplifted," he said.

Griffith said the bill could make meth makers and abusers "more creative"
in alternative ways to obtain the behind-the-counter medications. He
explained that he has encountered forged prescriptions for some pain
medications, some of which have resulted in arrests.

"I have seen a trend that shocks me," Griffith said. "I have seen what
amounts to a tide of disasters that are creeping into more and more
families in our area. It saddens you and makes you wonder where we're
heading.