MCKINNEY'S, GRETNA DRUG MAKE CHANGES FOR LB 117

Pharmacy customers may see some changes next time they go into the drug
store looking for medicine to combat that nasty cold.

Changes required by LB 117, the new Nebraska "Meth law" put into effect
Sept. 4, include all products containing pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient
used to manufacture methamphetamine. Exempt are pediatric preparations with
very small amounts of the drug marketed for children 12 years of age or
younger.

Products containing pseudoephedrine are now required to be kept behind
pharmacy counters or in a locked case, said Gretna Drug Co-owner and
Pharmacist Kyle Janssen. Common products containing the ingredient include
various types of Claritin, Sudafed, Benadryl and many others, he said.

"It's one of the most commonly sold over-the-counter products," Janssen
said. "Anytime a person comes in to get something for a cold, more than
likely it has pseudoephedrine in it."

According to the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, purchasers of
products containing the ingredient must be 18 years or older and show
proper identification. Pharmacy workers will be required to document all
pseudoephedrine purchases to ensure customers do not attempt to buy more
than one box containing the product in a 24-hour period.

Janssen said employees of Gretna Drug would implement the changes over the
holiday weekend.

McKinney's pharmacist Tony Colgrove said Friday the store has been prepared
for months for changes required by LB 117.

McKinney's made early accommodations for the law, Colgrove said, after an
incident occurred at the store last fall. "I'm actually for the law,"
Colgrove said. "It needed to be done mainly because of our little
experience we had last year."

The "little experience" Colgrove referred to occurred about a year ago when
a local couple came to the store and attempted to purchase two full baskets
of products containing pseudoephedrine, Colgrove said.

The store clerk did not allow the couple to make the purchase, and a deputy
from the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office was alerted, he said.

Colgrove said since the pair tried to purchase the products instead of
steal them, they could not be apprehended. He was told by the sheriff that
in the future an arrest could be made due to the combination of
purchases--large amounts of pseudoephedrine-containing products, lighters
and batteries--all products used to make methamphetamine.

Janssen said since opening in June of 2004, Gretna Drug has not had any
problems with customers attempting to purchase large quantities of products
containing the drug. "I've never had anybody try to get more than one box,"
Janssen said. "It hasn't been a problem here."

Colgrove said McKinney's has posted signs to alert customers that products
are now behind the counter, and the customers have been very understanding
about the products being moved.

"So far it hasn't been an inconvenience for anybody," Colgrove said.

Janssen said he believes the most difficult part will be getting the public
used to the changes.

"Stuff you've been able to buy for years over the counter you now have to
buy behind the counter," he said.

Janssen said other states have similar laws, and he knows of no big
problems in those states. He said any small hassle will be worth it to help
keep criminals from manufacturing methamphetamine.

"It's going to make a little extra work in the pharmacy, but a worthwhile
step to keep the public safe," Janssen said.