STATE AIMS TO RESTRICT SOURCE OF 'METH' CHEMICALS

Proposed laws in Georgia might require people buying Sudafed and other
brands of cold medicines to show identification, sign a log and require
retailers to keep the medicines behind a counter.

State lawmakers think those rules will help fight another drug -
methamphetamine.

Five bills currently being considered in the Georgia General Assembly would
restrict how people buy the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine, a key
ingredient in creating methamphetamine.

"Meth" has been a growing problem in Georgia and the country.

Over the last five years, the number of meth-lab cleanups in Georgia funded
by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency has risen from 34 in fiscal year
1999 to 489 in 2004.

"It's just so pervasive that I think as legislators we need to do something
to help solve the problem," said state Sen. Bill Hamrick, R-Carrollton.

Hamrick has authored a bill that would require people to show an
identification and sign a log when they purchase pseudoephedrine, and would
force retailers to put the drug behind the counter.

Last year, meth lab seizures in Oklahoma fell by more than 80 percent after
the state began restricting pseudoephedrine sales and requiring that buyers
show ID, according to the Associated Press. This year, many states have
adopted or are considering similar laws.

Hamrick's bill would also limit how much customers can buy at a time, and
require retailers who handle pseudoephedrine be licensed by the state.

"It's just one idea out of many about how to address what is a huge
problem," he said.

So far, several counties in Georgia have ordinances that keep
pseudoephedrine behind the counter.

Another bill before the Georgia Assembly would also put pseudoephedrine
behind the counter but not require people to sign for it or identification.

The bill also would place "Meth Watch" stickers on products commonly used
in meth production, not just Sudafed but also Drano and steel wool, among
other things.

If a customer wanted to buy several items containing "Meth Watch" stickers,
a store clerk would be encouraged (but not required) to call police.

Rep. Jay Neal, a LaFayette Republican and a sponsor of that bill, said "I
believe if we are really going to make a difference in this battle against
meth, we have to do more than just squeeze out the supply." State Rep.
David Graves, R-Macon, who is also a pharmacist, said the fact that so many
counties have passed legislation shows the importance of passing a state law.

"It's a sign that we have a significant methamphetamine problem in our
state," he said.

He said he expects one of the laws to pass, but wasn't sure which details
it would have. He said that pseudoephedrine should be sold behind the
counter of a pharmacy.

He said laws that would license pharmacists and fine them if they don't put
the drug behind the counter will cause them to pay more attention to
suspicious purchases.

District Attorney Howard Simms said he believes there are enough laws right
now to prosecute meth, but access to pseudoephedrine needs to be restricted.

But he said legislators need to be careful, noting that the state used to
restrict sugar sales in the 1940s to stop moonshine production.

Restricting the cold medicines, he said, "could get out of hand like
regulating sugar."

Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association, said that
requiring people to sign or show a identification is going too far.

"The vast majority of the public do not want to stand in line and show an
ID to buy cold medicine," she said.

Although she said putting the drug behind retail counters will make it more
difficult to steal and help keep it out of the hands of meth makers, she
said it is not necessary to put it behind a pharmacist's counter.

She also said limiting who can sell cold medicines with pseudoephedrine
could hurt people who live in smaller towns, without 24-hour pharmacies.
They would have to wait longer to get cold medicines, she said.

David Watson, owner of Watson Apothecary in Warner Robins, said he doesn't
expect any of the bills to hurt his business. He said in the past other
medications have required a signature from the buyer.

"We've done that historically in the past with other classes of drugs. It's
just a part of doing business," he said.

He said already has a lot of interaction with customers, and putting the
drug behind the counter wouldn't change that.

Jimmy Harris, owner of Powell's Pharmacy on Bloomfield Road, said having
customers sign and show ID would be only a small inconvenience.

"Any time you legislate anything it's a problem for somebody," he said.