HOOSIERS ADJUST TO METH LAW

Restricting Sales Of Cold Medications Targets Making Of Methamphetamine

Indiana's effort to combat the state's methamphetamine epidemic by
restricting sales of certain cold medications used to make the
powerful stimulant has upset some cold-sufferers stocking up on medications.

A new state law that took effect July 1 limits the amount of
over-the-counter medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
that customers can buy. Under the law, customers can purchase only 3
grams -- or about 100 tablets -- of the medications per week.

Indianapolis resident Jeffery Harding encountered the law's limits
last week when he went to a drugstore to purchase bottles of DayQuil
and NyQuil for his persistent allergies.

The pharmacist refused to sell him both of the medicines at the same
time because his bottles of cold syrup would have exceeded the 3 gram limit.

"All I was trying to do was buy one for the day and one for the
night," said Harding, 41. "It wasn't like I was trying to buy five
bottles of NyQuil."

Detective Lt. Carl Lamb of the Seymour Police Department has said the
inconvenience of consumers would be a small price for the potential
benefits of stopping the production of meth, the highly addictive
stimulant of the central nervous system.

Lamb was part of a statewide committee that recommended the law to
the Indiana General Assembly.

Two weeks after the new restrictions took affect, some pharmacists
said Hoosiers are slowly adapting to the change.

"People were frustrated at first, but it's just like any other
change. They don't like it at first, but people will get used to
change," said assistant manager Tina Fletcher at a Target store on
Indianapolis' north side.

Fletcher said she received one complaint at the beginning of the
month, but she said customers realize meth that is a problem in
Indiana and across the country.

In addition to the medication limits, Indiana's new law requires
customers to show a state or federal ID to purchase certain cold
medicines, be at least 18 and sign a logbook.

An ID and logbook signature are required until 2008, giving Indiana
State Police time to evaluate whether the requirements have been effective.

State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten told The Indianapolis Star for a
story published Sunday that it is too soon to tell what impact the
law will have on meth production in Indiana.

Stores with pharmacies must keep the affected medicines in either a
locked cabinet or behind the counter. Convenience stores are limited
to selling four tablets per transaction.

Hamaker Pharmacy on Indianapolis' north side, keeps its medications
in a locked glass case.

Pharmacist George Kaczmarski said his customers usually only buy one
box at a time and welcome the law.

"It's not like we have little old ladies taking five boxes of Sudafed
home and making meth," he said.