SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Province Moves Meth Ingredients Behind Pharmacy Counters

Selkirk Journal -- Local pharmacies are helping out in the battle
against meth with what police are hailing as a prescription for success.

A recent change to move single-source pseudoephedrine products behind
pharmacy counters is a perfect example of how the community can fight
meth, said Const. Dwayne Cebryk, a Selkirk RCMP spokesman. The
changes, introduced by the Manitoba government and endorsed by the
Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, also stipulate that non-pharmacy
retailers will no longer be able to sell the products.

Single-source pseudoephedrine is used in decongestant products like
Sudafed and Eltor. It is also a key meth ingredient.

"Pseudoephedrine or ephedrine is the main ingredient for
manufacturing crystal meth," Cebryk said. "Without that, it's
impossible to manufacture the drug. The harder it is for the dealers
to manufacture the drug, the harder it is to get it on the streets."

Several community forums have already been held in Selkirk to develop
a community strategy to fight meth, Cebryk said. Community leaders
have recognized the need to cut down on the supply of the drug's
ingredients, he said, many of which are easy to obtain.

"Enforcement is one part of it, and education is another part. Making
ingredients harder to get is a third part of that strategy," Cebryk said.

While the restrictions on the meth-making ingredients only came into
place last month, many pharmacies were already keeping a close eye on
the ingredients.

"They were always supposed to be in close proximity to the
dispensary," said Darwin Cheasley.

Cheasley is the pharmacist/owner of Parker's Super Thrifty Pharmacy
in Selkirk. He said that while the move doesn't represent a
significant change to the way his store operates, he's "100 per cent"
in agreement with the philosophy behind the change.

"For a store like mine, one or two cases is a year's supply. We don't
have that many on the shelves," Cheasley said.

Watchful eye

Moving the drugs behind the counter allows pharmacists to ask a few
quick questions to determine what the intended use is, he said. "The
pharmacist has to be involved in the sale now. If everybody plays
their part, there should be very little opportunity for single-source
pseudoephedrine to be purchased in mass quantities," Cheasley said.

Described as a "cancer in the community", crystal meth is a highly
addictive drug that gives users a powerful high. It also leads to
anxiety, exhaustion, strokes and even death.

"The use of crystal meth affects everyone in the community," the
RCMP's Cebryk said. Meth use creates a ripple effect heading out from
users, he said, many of whom resort to desperate acts of violence
fuelled by their need to find more drugs.

"Eventually the entire community becomes affected by it, and it can
be devastating," Cebryk said.

Selkirk Team for At Risk Teens co-ordinator Tammy Thompson organized
a large community forum on meth last year. She also applauded the
decision to move single-source pseudoephedrine products behind
pharmacy counters.

"I think it plays into the community's strategy," Thompson said.
"It's a really good thing, because (fighting meth) is everybody's
responsibility."