SUDAFED BILL WOULD HELP METH ADDICTS

This week, I was pleased by Sen. Evan Bayh and disgusted by Rep. Mark
Souder.

Bayh has played a great role in proposing a bill that would limit the
sale of ingredients to make methamphetamines. This bill suggests that
the sale of over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed, an ingredient in
meth production, would be limited to five packages per visit, would
need to be purchased from a pharmacist, and buyers' names would appear
on a list.

Souder seemed to be concerned solely about the financial and
economical problems this bill would incur. His response was in
representation of business owners, the sellers of Sudafed and
ephedrine drugs. He was concerned about their sales and was doubtful
of the bill's effectiveness. He said that people who cook this drug
would business-hop, buying five packages here and five there. This
would not be so if the proposed list of buyers was a "master list"
rather than a store-by-store record.

Souder was also concerned for mom-and-pop stores and gas stations
without the pharmacies to distribute these medications. Their sales
won't be hurt drastically, and it's a small price to pay to save a
prospective addict and hurt a meth-producer. Besides, people with
colds and runny noses will still buy Sudafed. On the other hand, the
illegitimate sales will decrease.

Someone close to me has a crystal meth problem, and the exposure of
his addiction was devastating to my family. This crystal meth epidemic
is crippling America from coast to coast and deserves attention. This
bill seems to be a feasible plan to help people affected by this
horrible substance.

Bayh is compassionate, thinking about the people, not a tiny dent in
the economy. Souder needs to examine the devastation of America, the
pain and helplessness of the addicts and the distress and concern of
their families instead of selfishly focusing on money.

SOPHI ULMER

Leo-Cedarville