News article - Oregon passes law

[Guest guest]

What's really funny is that they deregulated Claritin D so you didn't need a

prescription to get it. And caused the public who had prescription

insurance to pay more after it becoming over the counter. How the pendulum

swings.

 

Green Blessings

Patty Corapi

 

 

Updated: 03:12 PM EDT

Oregon's Innovative Meth Bill Becomes Law

By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER, AP

PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 16) - Gov. Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday signed legislation

that will make Oregon the first state to require prescriptions for cold and

allergy medications that can be converted into methamphetamine.

The requirement applies to any medication containing pseudoephedrine, the

key ingredient in the highly addictive street drug.

Kulongoski said he was aware of inconveniences that might arise from having

to get prescriptions for commonly purchased remedies but said pharmaceutical

companies already are producing replacement remedies that don't contain

pseudophedrine.

The bill sailed though both houses of the Legislature, opposed by only a

handful of lawmakers who said it would be an inconvenience to their

constituents

to need prescriptions for such common drugs as Sudafed and Claritin D.

Backers of the bill countered that medicines containing phenylephrine, which

cannot be converted to meth, will remain readily available.

The state Board of Pharmacy has until next July to implement the new

prescription requirement but board executive director Gary Schnabel said it

could be

in place within three months.

Patients will be allowed up to five refills in a six-month period, Schnabel

said.

Tom Holt, executive director of the Oregon State Pharmacy Association, said

he thinks the law will drive the pseudoephedrine-containing cold and allergy

pills out of the market within a year or two.

Oregon and several other states already require consumers to show

identification and sign a log when obtaining these cold and allergy medicines

from

pharmacies, and Congress is moving toward similar restrictions.

While increasing amounts of methamphetamine comes in from Mexico, bill

supporters say it could sharply reduce the number of home meth labs where the

chemicals used in the process can pose severe health problems.

08-16-05 15:50 EDT

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