RESTRICTIONS ON METH MIXES DRAW PRAISE FROM DRUG COPS

Law & Order

Police are applauding a move to restrict access to common household
medications that can be used to produce crystal meth, a
highly-addictive stimulant wreaking havoc in communities across Canada.

"It is definitely a positive step," said Det. Insp. Frank Elbers,
deputy director of the OPP's Drug Enforcement Section. "Any
controlling of it is going to help the situation."

As of April 10, grocery and convenience stores without pharmacies
will no longer sell cough and cold medications containing ephedrine
or pseudoephedrine - ingredients that can be used in the production
of crystal methamphetamine.

In addition, pharmacies are being told to move products with the
strongest dosages behind the counter.

"The pharmacist will have to dispense it like other types of
medication," Elbers said. "They know how much should be dispensed. I
can't see a pharmacist agreeing to give someone 12 packs of something
containing pseudoephedrine."

Medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as single
ingredients will be moved behind the counter, while those containing
multiple ingredients will continue to be available on shelves.

The changes come at the recommendation of the National Association of
Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. "This is a proactive measure to help
make sure we don't get into the problems they are getting into in the
U.S. with retail diversion," said executive director Ken Potvin.

A wider effort to restrict access to bulk quantities of the raw
ingredients used to manufacture crystal meth is likely to drive
producers to other sources, he said.

Limiting the availability of medications containing those same
ingredients by placing them under the watchful eye of pharmacists is
one method of curbing large-scale purchases, Potvin said. "It is
better to be ahead of the curve and try to do something that is
reasonable than trying to deal with the devastating effects after the fact."

Elbers said officers tasked with dismantling the highly-dangerous
drug labs that produce crystal meth regularly find discarded blister
packs, evidence that cough and cold medications had been used in the
manufacturing process.

Reaction to the coming restrictions has been "all over the map,"
meeting with criticism from retailers impacted by the change and
applause from police.