DEA TAKING AIM AT METH

Living in close quarters with other students, University of Utah
freshman Hailey Cloninger often gets colds and sinus infections that
are spreading through her dormitory. She is irked that she will now
have to get her preferred medicine, Sudafed, from a pharmacist
because of new federal regulations that went into effect this week.

The Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] is requiring pharmacies to
keep cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind the
counter and limit their sales, citing worries about people who use it
to make the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

"I think it's overkill," said the 18-year-old, who is studying to
become a pharmacist. "I think they should monitor who buys a lot of
it. But I get colds a lot, and I'm not trying to make meth."

Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant found in such popular drugs
as Sudafed, Claritin-D, Allegra-D and Contac.

Part of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, the law took
effect on Sunday, allowing the sale of pseudoephedrine only from
locked cabinets or behind counters. It also limits the monthly amount
anyone can purchase to about three boxes, requires customers to
present photo identification to buy such medications, and requires
retailers to keep personal information about those customers for at
least two years.

Enforcement, however, is a step behind. For now, stores may choose to
create linked electronic logs, but only written logs at individual
stores are required.

Mark Destito, assistant special agent in charge of Utah for the DEA,
hopes within a year to have regulatory investigators visit all Utah
pharmacies and copy their log books. Those entries would then be
entered into a database, which is still being developed.

The new rules are causing headaches for many pharmacists, who find
keeping such detailed records time consuming.

At Smith's Food & Drug Center outlets, customers are notified at the
shelf where they used to find the products that the items are now at
the pharmacy, and they take over a slip of paper that identifies what
they want. Pharmacists use an on-line log that tracks customers'
purchase history. If it indicates the customer's purchase does not
exceed limits on quantity, they can complete the transaction.

Customers fill out and sign a paper log sheet and must pay for the
product at the pharmacy.

"Our industry was not in favor of this change because we see it as a
barrier to good customer service," said Smith's spokeswoman Marsha
Gilford. "But it's done, and we will comply with the law.

"These products have proven to be effective relief, so most customers
are willing to go through these newly required steps to obtain them."

Some companies have or are in the process of re-formulating the
brands, using an older ingredient called phenylephrine. But it has
drawbacks, some experts say.

"It is not nearly as effective and does not last as long" as
pseudoephedrine, said Charles Burnett, senior vice president and
manager for Costco's pharmacy division. Like many companies, Costco
began placing limits on the number of packages customers could buy
before the new federal regulations.

"About five years ago a [DEA] agent called me and said they raided a
meth lab," Burnett said. "They found a bag full of our brand of
pseudoephedrine boxes. So we started limiting it to two packages at a
time and keeping track of who was buying it." Before that, people
would come in and buy the drugs in bulk and no one would question it, he added.

In August 2005, Rite Aid began placing such cold drugs behind the
counter at its 3,300 stores, 30 of which are in Utah.

While many states had adopted their own regulations in advance of the
federal change, Utah law did not previously regulate sales of the products.

"We wanted to be a good corporate citizen and cut down on abuse,"
Rite Aid spokeswoman Jody Cook said. "We've had positive feedback
from customers who are worried about combatting meth abuse."

Police believe the regulations are having an impact, combined with
increased trafficking from Mexico.

In Emery County, police haven't found a meth lab in more than a year,
said John Barnett, a detective on the county's drug task force.

"Around here, I don't think [the new regulations are] going to slow
[meth use] from what it is now," Barnett said.

But Keith Millett, commander of the Iron/Garfield Counties Narcotics
Task Force, said meth use is as prevalent as ever in his counties,
despite the fact police have not found a meth lab in two years.

"In the overall picture, it's good," Millett said of the regulations,
"but the everyday freedoms we enjoy are kind of lost."

Some pharmacists feel the government overstepped its bounds, causing
inconvenience for consumers and them alike.

"It's the hassle of having to document everything," said Evan
Stapley, owner of Stapley Pharmacy in St. George. "The sad thing is
the pharmacists are being put into a position of being the enforcers."

After buying Sudafed at a Salt Lake City Walgreen's Drug Store on
Wednesday, Cati Dallas said the new policy is an invasion of privacy.

"I hate it," she said. "I don't want them cooking meth on my street
either. But it takes that trust out of society."

Tribune reporter NATE CARLISLE contributed to this report.

About The New Pseudoephedrine Restrictions

* What are the new restrictions? To buy medicines containing
pseudoephedrine, which now are kept behind the counter, consumers
must show photo identification and provide their name, address and
telephone number. The date, name of the product and amount purchased
will be recorded.

* What products are covered? Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient
in cold and allergy relief products. Some brand names: Sudafed,
Claritin-D, Allegra-D and Contac.

* Why are some versions of these products still on the shelves?
Companies are voluntarily re-formulating their products to exclude
restricted ingredients. Some products now use an older ingredient,
phenylephrine, which pharmacists say some consumers may find is not
as effective.

* How much pseudoephedrine can I buy? The daily limit is 3.6 grams,
which typically is two packages. The monthly purchase limit is 9
grams per customer.

* For more information, visit
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/meth/index.html. Source: Tribune
reporting, Drug Enforcement Administration.