COLD MEDS TO BE MONITORED

Province Eyes Restrictions To Fight Meth

The battle against crystal meth is now targeting cold medications used
to make the deadly street drug.

Large sales of cold medications used to make methamphetamine will be
more tightly monitored by the province in the first plank of a new
program.

Solicitor General John Les admitted most meth labs use bulk commercial
imports to get the chemical precursors they need-they don't usually
buy them at pharmacies or grocery stores.

"While it's rare for them to use over-the-counter drugs, we want to be
as thorough as possible," he said.

Les said the province will work with police, pharmacists and retailers
to track large sales and thefts of cold medications from retailers. If
there's evidence of misuse of retail cold medicines, Les said, the
province will restrict their sale to licensed pharmacies.

And if problems persist, B.C. will make the medication available by
prescription only.

Some provinces are moving faster.

Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have moved to control cold medications
by limiting purchases and putting some medicines behind the counter.

"While some provinces are pulling cold medicine from the shelves, the
situation in B.C. does not yet require the same approach," Les said.

The move follows Premier Gordon Campbell's September announcement that
B.C. will put $7 million toward community-based anti-meth programs,
treatment resources and education.