METH BILL ADVANCES AMID SOME CONFUSION

RALEIGH - In the fight against methamphetamine, some over-the-counter drugs
are not equal to others.

The state's top prosecutor wants to restrict sales of pseudoephedrine pills
so they're only available behind the counter at pharmacies and also to
limit the amount people can buy. Purchasers would have to present
identification.

But under the current proposal, gelcap and liquid forms of pseudoephedrine,
Sudafed's active ingredient, still would be available on regular shelves
and could be sold at grocers, convenience stores and other places where the
pills would be banned. State prosecutors say these forms aren't used often
by meth cooks in North Carolina.

Retailers and some state senators are confused.

"What I want to know is why we're exempting gelcaps and not Claritin?" said
Sen. Doug Berger, R-Franklin. Berger noted that any drugs containing
pseudoephedrine -- including seemingly unrelated drugs such as Claritin's
decongestant version -- would fall under the new regulations.

A Senate panel on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the changes anyway. The
plan will face one more review before the entire Senate votes. The House
also must adopt the changes.

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper is endorsing the tougher restrictions as a
way to stem meth use in the state. Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, is a
key ingredient of the potentially toxic and highly addictive drug.

Retailers have fought the proposed rules.