LIMITING SALES OF COLD DRUGS WILL NOT CURE METH TROUBLES

The war on drugs is not easy, and the tactics are not always without
consequences. Such is the case in the battle against methamphetamine.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the number of meth
lab seizures in West Virginia has jumped significantly in recent years. A
key ingredient in making the illegal drug -- pseudoephedrine -- is found in
many over-the-counter cold remedies.

The West Virginia Legislature is considering a bill that would restrict the
sale of such products. The measure would require pharmacists to take the
cold medicines off the shelves and put them behind the counters. In
addition, pharmacists would have to keep track of the amount of cold
medicines purchased by individuals each month.

The proposed bill would cap the amount a customer can purchase at 9 grams a
month.

All this sounds like a reasonable way to tackle the meth crisis, but the
West Virginia Pharmacists Association says the requirements would put an
undue burden on drug stores. The group says the bill would increase
overhead and cost owners time and money keeping track of who buys a box of
Sudafed and how much.

While this system may cut down on the supply of ingredients to meth labs,
some lawmakers point out that it is not a cure-all.

"I don't know that we're missing the other side of this," said Delegate Don
Perdue, D-Wayne. "While we take the meth out of the labs, we're not taking
the meth off the street."

Not only does the bill not address demand for the drug, it hurts businesses
that sell legal, effective cold remedies, and it inconveniences law-abiding
citizens. And what about those times late at night when the only place to
get a cold remedy for a sick child is the local convenience store. Will
they be allowed to sell the drug?

The meth problem has as much, or more, to do with the addictive nature of
the drug as it does with the ready availability of some of the drug's key
components.

So how do we go about stopping this "raging epidemic" as Gov. Manchin calls
it? Senate Bill 147 is not the perfect solution; it is only one small
component in the state's arsenal.

While this bill has merit in raising awareness and putting some stopgap
measures in place, the reality is that those who desperately crave meth
will find other ways to get pseudoephedrine. Putting it behind the
drugstore counter and having a pharmacist act as guard isn't enough of a
deterrent to curb the demand.