MAIN INGREDIENT IN CRYSTAL METH PUT BEHIND THE COUNTER

Most stores at this time of year are doing a little redecorating and
redesigning for the holiday season to increase sales, and pharmacies
are no different. But this week, most pharmacists aren't hanging
garland and wreaths to welcome holiday shoppers, they are instead
rearranging certain boxes of cold tablets, to deter illegal drug users
from purchasing their stock.

In an effort to make it more difficult to produce crystal
methamphetamine, the Alberta government has passed an amendment to
take the main ingredient, pseudoephedrine, off pharmacy shelves and
put them behind the counter.

The relatively cheap and easy to make street drug is produced, in
part, with cough and cold medicines containing ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine. It is also created using common household ingredients
that can be found at local hardware stores, resulting in a rise of
crystal meth labs.

Greg Eberhart, registrar of the Alberta College of pharmacists, said
that 18 months ago, they recommended that pharmacists take steps to
restrict access to these drugs that were available in pharmacies, but
at the same time those same products were available in many other
commercial outlets throughout our communities.

"It was one thing for pharmacists to be aware and deal with these from
a professional perspective, accessibility and availability were still
available in corner stores and gas stations and the only way to
address that was through an amendment to the regulations."

With the regulation change, Alberta joins British Columbia, Manitoba
and Saskatchewan in imposing greater restrictions on the sale of these
ingredients.

Iris Evans, health and wellness minister said that with all the
western provinces now on board, we are able to make a unified push to
control the production of crystal meth.

"By restricting the sale of the main precursors of the drug, we hope
to reduce the production and sale of this dangerous drug," he said. "I
think we've made the right move to continue our fight against crystal
meth without unnecessarily limiting access to medications that
Albertans may legitimately need."

Eberhart said it is important to understand that although this is an
important step to decrease access to this drug, it is only a very
small step in reducing the numbers of users of the drug.

He said this measure is more likely to decrease only the "mom and pop
operations" which produces very small quantities, which is still a
positive start.

"If we can even save one life it's worth it," he said, "It's known
that organized crime is getting it in large quantities through various
means."

Crystal meth is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
It is 10 times as powerful as regular speed, highly addictive and it
can be fatal. It increases a person's heart rate and pulse, making him
or her feel more awake and alert. It can cause heart attack and
stroke. Eberhart said pharmacies limit quantities sold to customers to
3600 mg or less, or about 60 tablets or so.

"There's little reason as to why an individual would need more than
that and quite frankly if someone needs more than that there's obvious
questions to be asked."

Pharmacists at two of the Pharmacies in Olds, said the drugs with
pseudoephedrine have been behind the counter for the last 18 months,
and they would never sell more than a few boxes to each customer.