CRYSTAL METH LAWS

Gov. Haley Barbour's timely State of the State proposal to crack down
on crystal methamphetamine labs in Mississippi found a sympathetic
audience in the Legislature, and tough countermeasures seem certain.

Several anti-crystal-meth bills remain alive in the session, and it
doesn't matter who authors and sponsors the one finally adopted so
long as it has the right new restrictions.

The key in the issue is controlling access and abuse of
pseudoephedrine, the chemical that's essential in making crystal meth,
an illegal drug that's dangerous, deadly, addictive and ubiquitous.

Barbour's idea is the right one: Put the over-the-counter medicines
containing the most pseudoephedrine (that's Sudafed and some generic
spin-offs) behind the counter, limit quantities, and dispense only by
pharmacists.

The medicine wouldn't require a prescription, but its availability as
a mass-purchase product virtually would be eliminated. Eliminate
pseudoephedrine's easy availability and you'll eliminate much of
crystal meth's production.

Minor problems

It's arguable that moving Sudafed and its generic competitors behind
the counter would create a little more work, and it might be a minor
inconvenience for shoppers. Still, the positives outweigh the negatives.

The argument that people in rural areas won't be able to get the
medications after pharmacies close won't fly far. Many Wal-Marts and
other "big box" stores in small towns have drug stores with extended
hours. Anyway, most people don't go looking for Sudafed in the middle
of the night regardless of where it's sold.

No big quantities

Stiff control would prevent big-quantity purchases, possible now only
where pseudoephedrine is shelved in quantity.

The other meds with pseudoephedrine don't matter. As Tupelo pharmacist
Jim Bain commented, "The key is controlling pseudoephedrine. The drugs
with it mixed up with a lot of other stuff would require a lot better
chemist than anyone I know to separate it."

Barbour's plan and its spinoffs are based on an Oklahoma law that's
reduced meth lab seizures in that state by 80 percent. Impressive.

There's no shame in copycatting when somebody else's idea can be
applied with good effect in our state.

Crystal met is big illegal drug and crime problem, and we have a
priime opportunity to do something about it.