METH LAW DROPS MORE REGS ON PHARMACISTS' LAP

CLINTON - Pharmacists have been asked to shoulder additional
responsibilities with the passing of a new state law putting some cold and
allergy medications behind the counter, an effort by legislators to cut
down on the rising number of methamphetamine labs in the state. The law's
full effect has not yet been seen at some pharmacies in Clinton.

The law places over-the-counter cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and
ephedrine, the critical ingredient needed to make the illegal drug, behind
pharmacy counters. Customers will need to show picture identification and
sign a log is they wish to purchase such pills, the law states.

Jimmy Matthews, pharmacist at Matthews Drug, said that he has not received
notification from the Board of Pharmacy or any other government entity
regarding a log or picture identification requirement.

He said that medications have been placed behind the counter and are being
regulated.

"It's not affected our operation at all," Matthews said in a telephone
interview Friday. "I haven't seen any major problems. I personally like it
and think it's going to be fine."

He said that the law has helped the pharmacy in that employees no longer
have to answer questions as to why purchases of certain medications are
regulated.

"It eliminates that problem," said Matthews.

Medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine have almost entirely
been pulled from shelves at Clinton Drug Co., according to pharmacist Steve
Bass. He said Friday that the pharmacy has "pretty much pulled it off the
shelf."

Bass said that there was "a box or two" of the 12-tablet packages still on
the shelves, but that the "bigger sizes" of the drug had been pulled
completely. "We pretty much don't sell it anymore."

Bass said that the law's passing has been negative for business, but that
he can understand why such a law was needed.

"It's slowed things down, slowed things down a lot," he said. "But it's for
the right reasons. If this is going to curtail some of that then it is
worth it. It's got to be curtailing it."

The new legislation is said to fight the spread of meth labs in North
Carolina. It is often the presence of numerous empty packets of allergy,
cold and diet medications that tips off law enforcement to the possible
existence of a meth lab.

This year, Sampson County has had the most methamphetamine lab busts in the
state east of Hickory with 10, according to N.C. State Bureau of
Investigation statistics.

"Our communities will be safer because of this tough new law," said
Attorney General Roy Cooper upon the law's passing. "If criminals can't get
the key ingredient, they can't make this dangerous illegal drug that's
hurting children and families."

The legislation adopted by the General Assembly, House Bill 248, tracks a
model law passed last year in Oklahoma that has reportedly resulted in an
85 percent drop in meth labs in that state.

The new law in North Carolina will require that all single and multi-source
tablets containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine be sold behind a pharmacy
counter.

According to the law, purchasers must be at least 18 years old and show a
photo ID and sign a log to buy these products. The law also limits
purchases of these products to no more than two packages at once and no
more than three packages within 30 days without a prescription.

Matthews said that he has not received an official notice of the log and
photo ID requirement. "If it comes to that, I probably won't sell it," said
Matthews.

He said that medications have been placed behind the counter and are being
regulated. But as far as an official notice of the law detailing a log and
photo requirement on the pharmacy's behalf, that had not been received as
of Thursday, Matthews said. Most liquid and gel cap forms of these cold
remedies will remain available for sale on store shelves because there hav
e been no meth labs reported in North Carolina where gels and liquids were
used. However, the law allows government officials to place restrictions on
all liquids and gels as they deem appropriate as a preventative measure.

In 1999, the first year that meth labs were reported in North Carolina, SBI
agents discovered 9 labs. That number has skyrocketed, with agents shutting
down 322 labs in 2004 - and that number will likely be surpassed in 2005.