WAR ON DRUGS STARTING OVER THE COUNTER

Drugstore Association Recommends Restrictions On Drugs With Pseudoephedrine

An association representing more than 36,000 pharmacies is issuing
guidelines for possible federal legislation to restrict sales of cold
medications containing a substance often used in the illegal manufacture of
methamphetamine - or "speed."

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

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, moving to avoid a hodgepodge
of state laws, is calling for an overarching federal law that would require
that such products be kept behind the pharmacy counter and sold only by a
licensed pharmacist or pharmacy personnel.

Purchases should be limited to 9 grams - or 366 30-milligram pills - in 30
days, the association says.

The guidelines also suggest that drugstores be required to keep written or
electronic logs of all pseudoephedrine purchases to assist law enforcement
efforts.

"These principles strike a balance between keeping valuable products
available to our customers and combating dangerous, illegal practices,"
said Craig L. Fuller, the group's president and CEO.

Ann Wagner, vice president for pharmacy regulatory affairs, said companies
that run pharmacies in different states have to deal with a variety of laws
regarding pseudoephedrine sales. Six states allow only pharmacies to sell
drugs with pseudoephedrine; seven others make retailers lock up the
products or sell them from staffed counters. Legislatures in 22 states are
considering similar restrictions.

"There's got to be a standardized way to do this," Wagner said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported that more than 7,000 meth labs
were dismantled nationwide in 2003.

According to the White House Office of National Drug Policy, meth is a
highly addictive stimulant. Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic behavior,
including intense paranoia, hallucinations and out-of-control rages.

Last week Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kmart Holding Corp., CVS Corp., Rite Aid
Corp. and Walgreen Co. announced they will move medications with
pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy counters. Target Corp. and Albertson's Inc.
had already made such a move.

All seven companies are members of the drugstore association, along with
nearly 200 other chains.