MEDICAL SOCIETY BACKS PSEUDOEPHEDRINE LIMITS

On behalf of the Greene County Medical Society, I would like to extend our
appreciation for the series of articles by James Goodwin and Matt Wagner on
methamphetamine. The coverage was timely, insightful and educational. It
nicely details the scope of the problem we have in southwest Missouri and
points out the clear individual and public health threats this illegal
substance poses in addition to detailing proposed legislative solutions.

For physicians, the direct effects of methamphetamine use are most evident
in our emergency rooms, where patients will present with a variety of
disorders including psychosis, high body temperature, heart rhythm
disturbances, epilepsy, stroke and hepatitis.

What is less evident to physicians is the indirect effect of
methamphetamine. In our offices it is rare that we consider the diagnosis
of methamphetamine use. It is more common that we see the indirect effects
this abuse incurs in the tearing of the social fabric of our community. The
Greene County Health Department does periodic assessments of major public
health issues. Child abuse and neglect and domestic violence have for many
years been our top public health concerns and are well above the levels
seen in other parts of our state. Greene County health director Kevin
Gipson has said, "There is a direct correlation between methamphetamine use
and these high levels of child abuse and domestic violence."

Given this serious public health issue and the dramatic effect on curbing
methamphetamine activity by new legislation in Oklahoma, it was interesting
to read the cautionary editorial in the News-Leader on Jan. 30. The
editorial cites excessive burdens to pharmacists, public inconvenience and
border states without legislation.

Randall Williamson, pharmacist for the Kitchen Clinic, has discussed this
proposed legislation with his retail pharmacist colleagues, and they
unanimously feel these restrictions would place pharmacists in a less
difficult position than their current situation. As for public
inconvenience, I suspect most citizens would view this as a reasonable
intrusion much like boarding an airplane.

State Sen. Norma Champion and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt are proposing legislation
to more effectively deal with this public health menace. These pieces of
legislation will receive the full support of the Greene County Medical Society.

Dr. John Mihalevich is president-elect of the Greene County Medical Society.