COLD DRUGS OUT OF CORNER STORES

As of today, fending off allergies will be more of a chore for those
who rely on corner stores or small groceries for their sinus remedies.

Medicines containing any trace of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine will
be pulled completely from convenience stores, gas stations and any
grocery store without a pharmacy.

These medications include everything from children's cough medicine
to adult allergy tablets.

In pharmacies, medicines with ephedrine as just one of their
ingredients -- Tylenol Cold and Advil Cold and Sinus, for instance --
are staying put on the regular shelves.

But all pure ephedrine or pseudoephedrine medicines -- like Contac
Cold 12-hour, Benylin D for infants and Sudafed Decongestant
extra-strength -- can now only be sold over the counter.

The changes are a result of a reclassification of the drug, a
recommendation of the National Drug Scheduling Advisory Committee,
which regulates national drug classifications.

The advisory committee is part of the National Association of
Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, a group that effectively decides
where prescription and non-prescription drugs can be sold.

The aim is to "increase surveillance, detect potential abuses,
monitor sales and reduce thefts," the organization said in its
December 2005 recommendation.

The drugs are one of the primary ingredients in the production of
crystal methamphetamine.

The reclassification move has received mixed reaction from retailers
and pharmacists.

The drug advisory committee cited "retail diversion" -- where those
producing meth obtain their ephedrine from retail channels -- as a
growing concern.

But Gary Sands of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers said
retail diversion isn't a big problem now since most meth producers
get their ephedrine in bulk.

And if the advisory committee is concerned with retail diversion,
drugs containing any ephedrine at all should be moved directly behind
pharmacy counters.

Now, some allergy and cold remedies will still be found in the same
place in a drugstore but won't be found at all in any other kind of
store, he said.

"When (consumers) walk into the pharmacy, they're going to take it
off the same shelf to the same kid at the register," he said.

Sands said it's hard to explain to people, especially in rural areas
without a pharmacy, why their medicines are no longer sold at their
local stores.

"It's going to be the grocer that has been put in that position,"
Sands said. "And for a lot of them, they won't be able to explain
that. We think this is a commercially driven decision."

For law enforcement, any move that could potentially limited the
production of crystal meth is a good move.

"Our region has done well, but just west of us in Perth County,
(meth) is a real problem," said Insp. Bryan Larkin of Waterloo
regional police. "This is really about limiting access and at the end
of the day, it's a step forward."

Having the pure ephedrine and pseudoephedrine drugs behind the
counter and others in plain sight will not only help pharmacists
monitor who is buying the drugs but will also encourage interaction,
said Della Croteau of the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Even people who have taken a product before it was moved could
benefit from discussing their medications with their pharmacist, she said.

"The role of the pharmacist is to ensure the public knows how to take
medication, but with everything, there's a balance," she said. "The
issue around crystal meth is diversion, and controlling that involves
several parties, and this is just one small part of that."

Many larger pharmacies selling the drugs are also participating in
Meth Watch, a national program that trains pharmacists and other
staff to spot the signs of possible misuse.