KEEP U.N. OUT OF U.S. DRUGSTORES

In the global struggle against drug abuse, international cooperation
is necessary but must observe reasonable limits. The United Nations
will go too far next week if it decides, as expected, to slap tougher
restrictions on an ingredient in some popular over-the-counter asthma
and nasal congestion relievers, weight-loss products and hemorrhoid
ointments.

What Americans may buy without prescription at their local pharmacies
is simply not an international issue.

The drug in question, ephedrine, is a stimulant derived from the
Chinese herb ma huang and causes blood vessels to narrow, temporarily
raising blood pressure.

Five years ago, when it became known that some youngsters were
recklessly seeking an inexpensive buzz by taking large doses of an
ephedrine product sold in convenience stores as an energy booster, the
Florida Legislature promptly passed a law restricting such sales.
Lawmakers reacted correctly to a problem but did not overreact.

Now, abuse of ephedrine is a continuing concern in Africa, and the
World Health Organization is recommending that the drug be regulated
under the Convention of Psychotropic Substances. The United States
signed a treaty 28 years ago agreeing to abide by U.N. drug decisions,
but it wisely reserved its right to disagree and go its own way.

David Spangler of the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association
says that the U.N. decision next week has the potential of putting
prescription controls on popular medicines that have not been abused,
but that the United States can, under the terms of the treaty, opt to
exempt ephedrine products sold in this country.

At a recent Food and Drug Administration meeting on the issue, 21
scientists, doctors distributors and consumers testified, and none
spoke against ephedrine as it is marketed in U.S. drugstores. At a
meeting last month of the House Agriculture Appropriations
subcommittee, Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia told FDA Commissioner Jane
Henney, ``What I'm real surprised at is that the U.N. would be taking
the lead on this, as opposed to us in Congress, or you in the agency,
or the administration. It somewhat disturbs me.''

It is disturbing because, as a spokesman for drug manufacturers tells
us: ``If ephedrine is classified as a narcotic, it will only be
available by prescription. That will mean goodbye to dietary
supplements and over-the-counter drugs that countless millions of
Americans have trusted for many years.''

If the U.N. bureaucracy commands us to fight an African problem in the
cold-relief aisles of American pharmacies, the United States should
just say no.