PHARMACISTS PRAISED FOR THWARTING CRYSTAL METH MAKERS

REGINA -- Putting cold and allergy remedies behind pharmacy counters
has the support of some police, the Saskatchewan Party and
Saskatchewan Health, in an effort to dent the production of crystal
meth.

Alberta pharmacists made the right decision by voluntarily taking
medications with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine off the shelf this
week, said Sask. Party MLA Brenda Bakken. Consumers will have to ask
for them from the dispensary.

"We're calling on the pharmacists in Saskatchewan to follow suit and
do the same," she said.

"We're supportive, most definitely," said Lawrence Krahn, assistant
deputy minister of Saskatchewan Health. The department will work
closely with pharmacists, he said.

"I think it is a good idea," said Sgt. Jerome Engele, an operating
sergeant with the Saskatoon Police Service and RCMP integrated drug
unit.

"But not just drugstores (should be affected). Confectioneries, your
grocery stores, your corner stores, your Mac's. If it's just
drugstores, it's no use."

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists has no jurisdiction over other
stores, said registrar Ray Joubert.

Making it illegal for businesses other than pharmacies to sell
products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine is an option,
following consultation, he said.

Bakken suggests a poster similar to Alberta's. It shows the exact
medications used by those making meth and tells employees of all
stores selling them to watch their supplies.

Methamphetamine is made in illegal labs by cooking up various
chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Ninety per cent of those who use it get
hooked the first time, said Engele.

"My older sources, the ones who have been around a long time, won't
use it because it is too dangerous. They don't understand why the
young people seem to like it."

Engele sees charges for crystal meth or seizures and warnings
involving it come across his desk every day. It doesn't seem to "have
caught on" in Regina, he said.

Production in Saskatchewan is not as high as in other
provinces.

"Most of our product (crystal meth) is coming in from Edmonton," said
Engele.

His sources tell him there are labs in Saskatchewan. Saskatoon police
took down one this year, but crime lab reports have not confirmed it
was making crystal meth.

Pharmacists taking these products off the shelf would show they are
aware of the potential use and that they are screening it, said Sgt.
Dave Henry, drug awareness co-ordinator for the RCMP's F division.

It would keep them ahead of the crisis now in Alberta, he
said.

It could also keep Alberta producers from thinking Saskatchewan is a
good place to get materials, Engele said.

"If it is harder to get in one province and easier to get in another,
they're going to get it," he said. "People will be paid to do a run to
get a bunch or rob drugstores."

He is not sure if Saskatchewan drugstores would be at a greater risk
of being robbed if cough and allergy remedies went behind the counter.
Security of drugstores is being considered by pharmacists, said Joubert.

The college of pharmacists is still gathering information about the
size and nature of crystal meth use and production in
Saskatchewan.

The exact products commonly sought and what amounts producers buy
needs to be determined. They are also considering if putting all cough
and cold medications behind the counter would be more extreme than
necessary.

"This such a multifaceted issue," said Joubert. "If we could act
unilaterally, we would."