RESTRICTIONS TIGHTENED ON CRYSTAL METH INGREDIENTS

Cold sufferers don't need to worry about not being able to get
over-the-counter cold remedies with the government's new ban on
pseudoephedrine.

While the move will put some cold medications behind pharmacy counters,
cold and flu victims won't be completely left out in the cold.

Only medications containing solely ephedrine and pseudoephedrine will be
kept behind the counter, but no more than 3,600 milligrams or about 50
pills will be sold in one transaction.

"We wanted to make sure this was a measured approach and this was a first
step," said Saskatchewan Minister of Healthy Living Services Graham Addley.
"What we know is that in North America, 80 to 90 per cent of crystal meth
is made in super labs and they get access to the ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine in bulk. What this measure is getting at is the remaining
10 or 20 per cent."

He said while the majority of meth labs purchase ephedrine in bulk, there
may be a few home labs that purchase the drug in smaller quantities.
Pseudoephedrine will be monitored and if labs start using cold medications
changes to the regulations will be made.

Because bulk purchases of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are regulated by
the federal government, Saskatchewan has lobbied for the sale of meth to be
a more serious offence and that has been agreed to.

"We've been able to get the federal government to agree to look at
controlling the federally regulated precursors to crystal meth," Addley
said. "The companies that make the bulk ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and
then ship it to the people that make the pills, those are getting diverted,
whether by theft or people are selling extra containers.

"If the federal government controls that and tightens up the restrictions,
that can curb the ability for people to make crystal meth in the super labs."

By making it more difficult to get the supplies needed to make the drug,
Addley said the cost will rise and it will be less available on the street,
hopefully deterring more from trying and getting hooked on meth.

"We don't want anyone to use illegal drugs, but using crystal meth is
particularly harmful," he said. "It just was felt we're ahead of the curve
and we wanted to stay ahead of the curve."

Addley said Project Hope is well underway and on track, and the
introduction of the amendment to the Drug Schedules Regulations that moves
ephedrine behind counters comes from an approach to control the precursors
to crystal meth.

Schools have received information, Healthline has been enhanced and
MethWatch, a voluntary program to monitor the sale of meth ingredients, has
been implemented across the province.

"We're wanting it to go more quickly, but we're working with regional
health authorities and communities and we're wanting to implement (Project
Hope) as quickly as possible," Addley said, adding Premier Lorne Calvert
was the first-ever Canadian politician to be honoured by the Canadian
Centre for Substance Abuse for his leadership in the area. "It shows we're
on the right track. Awards don't keep kids from using drugs, but it was a
reinforcement that we are moving in the right direction and we're moving as
quickly as we can."