PHARMACIES REGULATE METH INGREDIENT

Whether from nasal congestion caused by allergies, colds or the flu,
a popular decongestant called pseudoephedrine provides relief without
the drowsiness often associated with antihistamines.

Unfortunately, pseudoephedrine can be used as an ingredient in
methamphetamine, an illegal drug.

To stem the tide of meth manufacturing, the U.S. Senate in September
approved a bill limiting how much cold medicine containing
pseudoephedrine people may buy and requiring them to show photo
identification and sign a log.

The U.S. House has not passed similar legislation as yet.

Pennsylvania's General Assembly is working on legislation to limit
sales to people who are 18 years-old or older, but no restrictions
are in place.

However, many stores have already adopted voluntary regulations
regarding the sale of "single entity" pseudoephedrine products, those
that only have the decongestant as its primary ingredient. Other
products that combine pain killers, cough suppressant or other
ingredients with the decongestant, are not regulated.

However, many stores have already adopted regulations.

Wal-Mart's company-wide police limits all customers' purchases of
products containing pseudoephedrine as its only active ingredient to
three per visit. Pharmacy employees are told to ask customers for
identification proving they are 18 years old or older.

Wal-Mart keeps plastic cards showing the picture of the product on
the shelves in place of the actual product. Customers take the card
to the pharmacist and are then directed to a nearby shelf.

At all Eckerd Drug stores, customers take a printed version of the
drug's label to the pharmacist.

Locally-owned stores have varied policies.

At Martin's in Connellsville, all single-entity pseudoephedrine
products are behind the pharmacy counter. John Holonich, pharmacy
manager, said that these pills are behind the pharmacy counter "to
prevent theft. Combination products are on the shelf."

At Pechin's in Dunbar Township, pseudoephedrine products are not
behind a counter, but "they are by the pharmacy and easily watched,"
said Beth Means, store manager.

The Connellsville Shop 'n Save keeps pseudoephedrine products on the
shelf, as does Healthland in Connellsville.

"It doesn't surprise me that the drug stores are having some issues
(with decongestant sales) because it is voluntary right now," said
Rob Quigley, executive director of Drug Free Pennsylvania.

According to the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration,
methamphetamine can be made from commonly available household
products such as lye, lithium batteries, rock salt and pseudoephedrine.

In 2004, the DEA, state and local officials seized 106
methamphetamine labs statewide. The DEA seized 4.1 kilograms of
methamphetamine that same year, compared to 173.8 kilograms of
cocaine and 14.3 kilograms of heroin.

Most seized methamphetamine labs were located in rural areas in
northwestern Pennsylvania and the Pocono mountains.