COLD MEDICATION MAIN INGREDIENT IN PRODUCTION OF CRYSTAL METH

Pharmacies Put Ephedrine Drugs Behind Counter

Fairview Post -- Although Fairview RCMP said methamphetamine hydrochloride,
commonly known as crystal meth, a highly addictive street drug containing
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, is not a huge concern in the area, Fairview
pharmacies are following a recommendation to place drugs containing these
two key ingredients behind their counters.

"We are pulling it back," Gerard Becher, a pharmacist and owner of Becher
Pharmacy, said.

"I think crystal meth isn't so much of a problem around here but it is in
bigger cities like Edmonton," he added.

The Alberta College of Pharmacists hopes that restricting over-the-counter
access to single-ingredient drugs containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
will make it more difficult for people to make crystal meth.

"[Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine] is in a lot of cold remedies," he said.
"Single entity products like Sudafed and one kind of non-drowsy Contact C,"
are examples of products being shelved behind the counter, Becher said.

However, products where the two ingredients are in combination with other
medicines are not being placed behind the counter. "People have to have a
more sophisticated lab to be able to separate the medicines," Becher said.

Batches of crystal meth can be manufactured in an at-home lab "quite
easily," said Sgt. Dave Hammond, detachment commander.

He said he thinks crystal meth production is a concern everywhere, but, "I
don't think it's a major problem here by any means yet, but there's lots of
literature out there on the Internet and whatnot as to how to make it.

"A lot of it can be done with normal, household-type products so certainly
it doesn't hurt to be vigilant in that area."

Hammond said placing the drugs behind the counter will help alert
pharmacists if unusual amounts are being purchased or repeated.

Becher agrees: "They were quite available to the public. If people are
asking for five or six or seven packages at a time now, it starts to set
off some bells that they're being used for more than just somebody's head
cold."

He said placing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine drugs behind the counter will
only be a minor inconvenience for consumers.

Becher said if there continues to be a problem, it's likely the
pharmacists' association will regulate the issue through law, rather than
recommendation.

Value Drug Mart, currently in the midst of merging with Apple Drugs, said
they will likely follow the recommendation once the move is over.