Pot times July 18, 2005
Hoosiers Adjust To Meth Law
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1135/a06.htmlNewshawk: Kirk
Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 HOOSIERS ADJUST TO METH LAW
Source: Tribune, The (Seymour, IN)
Copyright: 2005 The Tribune
Contact:
dan_davis@link.freedom.com
Website: http://www.tribtown.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3743
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm
(Methamphetamine)
Restricting Sales Of Cold Medications Targets Making Of Methamphetamine
Indiana's effort to combat the state's methamphetamine epidemic by restricting
sales of certain cold medications used to make the powerful stimulant has upset
some cold-sufferers stocking up on medications.
A new state law that took effect July 1 limits the amount of over-the-counter
medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine that customers can buy.
Under the law, customers can purchase only 3 grams -- or about 100 tablets -- of
the medications per week.
Indianapolis resident Jeffery Harding encountered the law's limits last week
when he went to a drugstore to purchase bottles of DayQuil and NyQuil for his
persistent allergies.
The pharmacist refused to sell him both of the medicines at the same time
because his bottles of cold syrup would have exceeded the 3 gram limit.
"All I was trying to do was buy one for the day and one for the
night," said Harding, 41. "It wasn't like I was trying to buy
five bottles of NyQuil."
Detective Lt. Carl Lamb of the Seymour Police Department has said the
inconvenience of consumers would be a small price for the potential benefits of
stopping the production of meth, the highly addictive stimulant of the central
nervous system.
Lamb was part of a statewide committee that recommended the law to the Indiana
General Assembly.
Two weeks after the new restrictions took affect, some pharmacists said Hoosiers
are slowly adapting to the change.
"People were frustrated at first, but it's just like any other change.
They don't like it at first, but people will get used to change," said
assistant manager Tina Fletcher at a Target store on Indianapolis' north side.
Fletcher said she received one complaint at the beginning of the month, but she
said customers realize meth that is a problem in Indiana and across the country.
In addition to the medication limits, Indiana's new law requires customers to
show a state or federal ID to purchase certain cold medicines, be at least 18
and sign a logbook.
An ID and logbook signature are required until 2008, giving Indiana State Police
time to evaluate whether the requirements have been effective.
State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten told The Indianapolis Star for a story
published Sunday that it is too soon to tell what impact the law will have on
meth production in Indiana.
Stores with pharmacies must keep the affected medicines in either a locked
cabinet or behind the counter. Convenience stores are limited to selling
four tablets per transaction.
Hamaker Pharmacy on Indianapolis' north side, keeps its medications in a locked
glass case.
Pharmacist George Kaczmarski said his customers usually only buy one box at a
time and welcome the law.
"It's not like we have little old ladies taking five boxes of Sudafed home
and making meth," he said.
