More Stores Limit Access to Cold Medicines - legislation introduced

[The Straight Story]

More Stores Limit Access to Cold Medicines

Safeway has joined an expanding list of retailers who are placing medicines containing pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in methamphetamine production, behind the pharmacy counter.

Pseudoephedrine is an active ingredient in cold, cough and allergy medications such as Sudafed, Nyquil and Claritin-D. A number of stores, including Target, Wal-Mart, Long's Drugs, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Albertson’s are voluntarily pulling the over-the-counter medications and limiting access. In most cases, consumers would have to ask a pharmacist or pharmacy worker for the medications.

The move follows both state and federal legislation designed to make it more difficult to obtain pseudoephedrine. Currently the state Senate is debating is Senate Bill 152 authored by State Senator Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough. SB 152 has the following provisions:

# Any product containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) can be sold only in a licensed pharmacy by a pharmacist or technician.


http://www.kxtv10.com/storyfull1.asp?id=11591

[MissB]

1. I don't have a problem with this

It is used to make meth. Meth abuse is a plague around here.

[SW FL Dem]

2. What a waste of effort. It won't stop crack production

but it will be a pain in the butt for consumers and pharmacists.

[SouthernDem2004]

3. It has nothing to do with crack. /nt

[SW FL Dem]

4. You're right. I should have said meth.

Meth is a problem, but this won't do a thing to shut down the big time producers who get their supplies by hijacking trucks or importing huge supplies from other countries.

[SoCalDem]

5. It's been that way here...for years..

Watch for OTC meds to be more regulated..and more of them..

The pharma companies would prefer that we pay more for them anyway..Maybe they'll be outlawed, and "new" RX-only formulas put in their place:(

Then they'll nick you for an office visit to get the RX and another $50 when you get it from the pharmacy,,