POPULAR MEDICINE MOVED

Giant retailer Wal-Mart is getting the jump on proposed legislation in
Alabama and other states by moving popular cold and sinus medication off
the counters.

That legislation, spearheaded by State Sen. Lowell Barron and still under
consideration in Montgomery, would require medications containing
pseudoephedrine, a key component for making methamphetamine, to be sold
behind the counter and limit the amount sold to a single customer.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, which has nearly 4,000 Wal-Mart and
Sam's Club stores in the United States and another 1,600 international
locations, announced Monday they will join rivals Target Corp. and
Albertson's Inc in moving such medicines behind the counter throughout all
locations.

That decision was applauded by DeKalb County law enforcement officials.

"I think it is a good idea, and I am glad Wal-Mart is planning to move all
of these medications behind the counter," Jeff Bain, a DeKalb County Drug
task force agent, said. "By doing this, one of the main ingredients,
pseudoephedrine, used in making meth is in a more controlled environment
and it is not easy for someone to just go out and buy as many products as
they want."

DeKalb County Chief Deputy Mike James said he was proud to see a major
corporation taking action against the meth problem.

"I would also encourage other vendors to become responsible vendors and
follow suit," James said.

Jacquie Young, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart, said all the company's
locations are planning to move over the counter medications, such as Pfizer
Inc.'s Sudafed, Sinutab, and Schering-Plough Corp's Afrin nasal spray,
behind the counter by June.

"This action has already been taking in about 60 percent of our stores,"
Young said. "And we hope to have it completed in all of stores by the end
of June."

Young said she didn't know if the Wal-Mart in Fort Payne had already moved
the medicine.

"We will continue with our plan to move the most commonly abused products
containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter in all our stores by
early June," Young said. "The remaining solid dose products containing
multi-ingredients will be moved behind the pharmacy counter by September of
this year."

The limit on the number of products that can be bought, according to Young,
is three during one purchase.

In February 1997, Young said Wal-Mart implemented a voluntary sales
limitation of selected over-the-counter cough and cold products in an
effort to help curb the problem of meth.

'This is an issue that affects the country, and we want to do our part to
help," Young said. "Not only is the number of pseudophedrine items
restricted, but we also have our cash registers set up to prompt cashiers
that these products are restricted."

Bain said he wants the limit to be one package.

" I really don't see why someone would need more than one medication at a
time," Bain said. "But I do think limiting the number is a great idea."

Young said Wal-Mart has also been in discussions with suppliers "regarding
the reformulating of these products with alternative ingredients."

The move comes as a number of states imposed restrictions on the sale of
some of the cold medicines, which have resulted in a drop in the number of
meth lab seizures.

Six States allow only pharmacies to sell drug with pseudophedrine, and
seven others make retailers lock up the products or sell t hem staffed
counters. Legislators in 22 states are considering similar restrictions.

- The Associated Press contributed to this story