INGREDIENT FOR CRYSTAL METH PUT BEHIND THE COUNTER

Alberta pharmacists have been enlisted by the provincial government
to help with the battle against drugs.

The Alberta government announced changes last week to keep
pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in the highly addictive drug
crystal meth, out of the hands of its manufacturers by keeping it
behind the counter.

Local pharmacists said they have already taken steps to restrict
access to pseudoephedrine.

Ron Sandul, pharmacist and owner of Sandul's Pharmacy Counter Corner
in Black Diamond, said he has already shelved pseudoephedrine.

"We dealt with this months ago at the recommendation of the Alberta
College of Pharmacists," said Sandul.

Concerns over sales or theft of the drug in large quantities were not
a consideration in the decision to restrict access to the drug, he
said. "In terms of the supply coming from our pharmacy it is a
non-issue," Sandul said. "Most times (our staff) would be aware of
the quantity and would alert the pharmacy manager."

Pseudoephedrines are most commonly found in cold medications, such as
Sudafed and Eltor.

At Sandul's only medications with pseudoephedrine as the sole
ingredient are now being stocked behind the counter, but other cold
medicines that contain the drug as well as other ingredients are
still available to the public.

In Okotoks, Super Drug Mart has also pulled the drug off the floor.

"We had some safety concerns of large quantities being sold, but we
never had that happen here," said pharmacist Steve Laycraft. The
pharmacy agreed to place pseudoephedrine drugs behind the counter as
a preventative measure.

"It is easier to control if it is sold at the pharmacy than at the
front," Laycraft said.

Local police are pleased that there is another barrier between
crystal meth manufacturers and the ingredients needed to create the
highly addictive drug.

"Any steps taken to make it inconvenient to make it or more difficult
to mismanage the use of a drug is a positive step," said Sgt. Gary
Graham of the Okotoks RCMP.

While no crystal meth related charges or even arrests have been made
in Okotoks, Graham said that doesn't mean the drug doesn't have a
presence in the foothills.

"We are not receiving complaints about the manufacturing or use of
crystal meth, but that doesn't mean it is not here," admitted Graham.