COPS CLAMP DOWN ON METH MAKERS

Cold Remedies Among Targets

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," he said.

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 both law enforcement and health officials, Potvin noted.

"In our eyes, it is all about balance," he added.

"It is a reasonable approach to ensuring patients have access to
effective products, while taking measures to avoid problems of retail
diversion for illicit purposes."

Though the authority to enact such restrictions rests with individual
provinces and territories, Potvin said Ontario and several other
provinces have traditionally followed the association's lead by
immediately implementing requested changes to drug policy.

Communities and provinces that see a need for further restrictions --
including limits on sales and electronic tracking of purchases --
would have the association's support.

Pharmacies are additionally encouraged to participate in so-called
"meth watch" programs, aimed at discouraging large-scale purchases of
medications for illegal purposes.