SENATE APPROVES ESTES' METH BILL

Legislation Limits Sale Of Pseudoephedrine

AUSTIN - Legislation that would restrict access to some over-the-counter
cold medicines used to make methamphetamine won passage in the Senate on
Wednesday.

The bill, which now goes to the House, limits the sale of tablet forms of
pseudoephedrine products to locations with a pharmacy.

Pseudoephedrine is a main ingredient in a number of over-the-counter drugs
like Sudafed, Nyquil and Sinutab. It can be extracted by boiling down the
cold medicines. Toxic chemicals are then used to turn the substance into
highly concentrated meth.

Under the bill, pills that have pseudoephedrine as the only active
ingredient would have to be kept behind pharmacy counters. Tablets that
contain pseudoephedrine and other active ingredients would have to be kept
behind pharmacy counters or in a locked case within 30 feet and in a direct
line of sight from the pharmacy counter.

Medicines that are in liquid, liquid capsule and liquid gel capsule form
are not restricted under the bill.

"By requiring placement behind the pharmacy counter the one ingredient that
meth cooks must have, we will drastically reduce the ability of drug
abusers to cook this highly volatile drug in our fields, neighborhoods,
apartment complexes, hotels and even vehicles driven through our
communities," bill sponsor Sen. Craig Estes said.

Customers who are purchasing the medicine would have to show a picture
identification and date of birth, sign for the purchase and could not buy
more than two packages or six grams at one time.

Stores would be required to keep a record that includes the customer's name
and birth date, the date of purchase as well as the items and grams
purchased. The Department of Public Safety and the state pharmacy board
would be able to review the list.

Other states are considering meth legislation, Estes said, noting that
Oklahoma has led the way, after losing three peace officers who were
murdered by meth cooks.

"These paranoid, delusional, homicidal meth cooks must be told that they
cannot come to Texas to obtain pseudoephedrine and cook this drug," said
Estes, R-Wichita Falls. "If we do not act now, we wait for a peace officer
in Texas to be murdered and we can count on Texas becoming the meth capital
of the United States."

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores would not comment on the bill
Wednesday.

The association, which represents more than 36,000 pharmacies, has issued
guidelines for possible federal legislation that would restrict the sales
of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine. The guidelines suggest that
purchases should be limited to 9 grams in 30 days and also suggest that
drugstores be required to keep written or electronic logs of all
pseudoephedrine purchases.

- - The bills related to methamphetamine use are CSSB 107 and CSSB 112.