Marketplace![[SeMissourian.com]](http://www.semissourian.com/images/nameplate.gif)
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (25)
 In this Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 photo, Pharmacist Les Logan holds up common cold medicines at Rinderer's drug store containing pseudoephedrine, in Union, Mo. The small eastern Missouri town is now forcing consumers to get a doctor's prescription for the common over-the-counter cold medicines, which contain a key ingredient used in the making of meth. Kennett, Mo., became the latest city to require a prescription for the drug. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) [Click to enlarge] |
Brandon Michael, a Kennett pharmacist, said that he realized the council probably had limited dealings with the element of the community that abuses the drugs.
"Most of that takes place in the pharmacy because of the way [the system] is currently set up," Michael said. "It seems to me, what we really need is prescription only."
He added that the current system creates situations where people buy for other people, and buy at different places.
"Methamphetamine, as a whole, is a problem in the area," Michael said. "The government has done what it can, from a federal standpoint, to limit pseudoephedrine."
"We are falling short in monitoring this because the people who are abusing the drug are still finding ways to attain it," Michael said.
Robin Robertson, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., pharmacist and president of The Southeast Missouri Pharmacist Association, explained to the city council that he had been working approximately three months as a pharmacist in Poplar Bluff.
"In that short time, I have not been able to believe the amount of people coming in to get this stuff," Robertson said. "I am here to state to you that most of these people are unsavory people and it puts a burden on the pharmacist."
He added that in 1981, while working in Florida, two men came into his pharmacy and almost killed him over narcotics.
"I am afraid that this is going to lead to this sort of problem, which could be the burden the pharmacists [acquire]," Robertson said.
He explained that he was asking the council to please take the information into consideration and vote yes to make the drug a prescription only.
"I can tell you since the ordinance passed in Poplar Bluff, three weeks ago, we have had no problem at all," Robertson said. "The majority of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine we were selling were to people abusing."
Kennett Police Chief Barry Tate explained that he was "very much in favor" of the ordinance.
He added that he believed it would be good for the city and officers, especially the Drug Task Force members.
Tate also explained that several other towns were watching to see what the city was going to do with the ordinance.
"Let us set the example," Tate said.
Councilman Jake Crafton asked the members of the Drug Task Force if they believed the ordinance would hinder drug making in the community.
The officials explained that the ordinance would hinder the manufacturing of methamphetamine and that it was "the initials step to do something in a positive light."
Crafton noted that he did not have a personal physician and that he only visited a doctor in emergency type circumstances.
"I can't call a doctor and say, 'I want some Claritin D,'" Crafton said.
"My thinking is the material is not the problem but the problem is in the punishment end of it," Crafton said. "If the demand is there, people will get the drug."
He explained that he believed the ordinance, in his opinion, would not do any good in terms of hindering or stopping the abuse in town, and would only be worse for citizens who want to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine properly.
Officials noted that the majority of the individuals purchasing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were misusing the drug.
The officials added that there was no substitute for ephedrine or pseudoephedrine because it is the key ingredient in methamphetamine.
Mayor Roger Wheeler, Sr., noted that he believed that some state legislation will be considered this year and passing the ordinance in the city will give the state proposal support.
Wheeler said that the city is currently contacting pharmacists to explain the ordinance and that the law would probably go into full effect by the first of the month.
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please 
Another inconvenience for the law-abiding citizen that won't change anything...
Robertson said. "The majority of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine we were selling were to people abusing."
"Officials noted that the majority of the individuals purchasing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were misusing the drug. "
Great, now "WE" have moved on from 'meth-makers' to 'users' period and 'officials' telling us the appropriate dose of a nasal decongestant.
Bad move, guys. I suppose us law abiding citizens now need to stock up on sudafed.
Yes, JM...I will now have to stock-up on the off-season so I don't get 'busted' for misuse.
You all have no idea how many people come into my pharmacy to buy this stuff, and are not using it for the right purpose. At least 80% of people who buy it, come in every month on the same day, in order for them to miss going over the monthly limit. I think it is really sad when I look at the state their lives are in, knowing that passing a law like this could change it so easily. The law abiding citizen can get a prescription for it, or use phenylephrine, another OTC that is not behind the counter. Passing this in Cape and Jackson would be a Godsend, and I support it. I can guarantee that anyone else that works in a pharmacy would support it as well. Just think what would happen to the meth world if every town did this...
This isn't about "misuse" of pseudoephedrine folks. Its all about "misuse of power" by tyrants.
The people of Kennett should be ashamed of their leaders.
This is nuts. You are punishing the law abiding public because of the druggies. Totally unfair.
Hey anybody wanna make some bucks? Buy a load of over-the-counter cold medicines, park just outside of the city limits, and sell them out of the back of your truck for 2X-3X of what you paid for them. Or just order them off the internet from a different town or Canada.
Without commenting on the wisdom of the law, I find myself wondering if it's legal for a city council to make this move. Is this something that can be challenged in the courts?
dixie..for some of us, there's no substitute for pseudoephedrine.
dixiewrecked, Perhaps those people and/or their family members take that med daily and it runs out around the same time? Some people even take it twice a day. I realize there is a problem with meth labs in our area, as well as murders, burglaries and assaults. Which is why I went along with showing my ID, dealing with pharmacy hours (amazingly enough decongestants are needed the most during the nighttime hours/early morning hours which are NOT pharmacy hours). NO....my problem is I am a law-abiding allergy sufferer who already has enough out of pocket expenses for my health insurance/prescriptions and I'm sick of it and don't want anymore BS/hassle when I have a sinus headache. Btw, that phenylephrine crap doesn't work.
I don't think the City Council has that authority to change the class of a drug. They must be the stupidest council ever elected. Now a LAW ABIDING CITIZEN has to: 1. Make an appointment with their physician. 2. Take off work and drive to that appointment. 3. Pay a co-pay, if they are lucky enough to have insurance. 4. Drive their prescription to the pharmacy and wait for an OVER THE COUNTER medicine. 5. Pay higher prices for the over the counter medicine because you know the pharmacist is going to raise the price due to the administrative overhead involved. What if they pass a law requiring a prescription for baby formula because they want to encourage breast feeding? What about a prescription for beer or wine? Must be a bunch of liberals. Punish the honest, hardworking people for the stupidity and dishonesty of others.
The only thing that is rediculous about this is that it hasn't been done statewide. A doctor's visit, co-pay, etc. is a small price to pay to basically eliminate this drug from our society. Pseudoephedrine is the only ingredient that cannot be substituted in the making of meth. Nice work Kennett, hopefully the state lawmakers will follow suit.
Your opinions would be different if someone close to you has been affected by meth.
I agree that it would be a huge hassle, and I would probably never go to a doctor to get it, but I think it is necessary. Although you could most likely go to the doctor and have him write the quantity on the script as "as needed", and it would be good for an entire year, which wouldnt be soooo horrible. The people that come in over and over and want "12 hour equate" aka 12 hour sudafed have no need for it, generally have no teeth, and are jittery almost to the point I am scared of one of them coming in with a gun some day. The kind they buy is only supposed to be for short term use anyways and using for over 7 days is not recommended can lead to an array of cardiovascular problems. I know most people think it is unfair, and wont agree with me, but I read this article and just felt people should know that the drug problems of our state are much more prevelant than they think.
Why not just report these people who are buying month after month and let the cops check them out. Repeatedly purchasing products in large quantities should be sufficient probable cause for a cop to check them out. They already have to show an ID and sign for the stuff as it is now. If they are that unsavory they shouldn't be hard to spot.
ink_pen: "small price to pay to basically eliminate this drug from our society"
You mean eliminate meth in the same manner that cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, etc... were all eliminated from our society by various laws?
I have had people close to me effected by devastating drug addictions including a few old high school friends lost to Meth. The drugs themselves are totally blameless. 100% of the blame falls onto the individuals that made the choice to use them. They were not ignorant to the dangers and neither that nor any laws dissuaded them from their choices. They weren't exactly particular about any one drug anyway, if they couldn't get meth some particular night then they would have happily substituted cocaine, a handful of amphetamines, or some other drug (cheap vodka & ditch weed if absolutely poor & desperate). The point is their addictions came from their need to escape reality, not due to their pick of poison.
FORGIVE THEM FATHER...FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO!
Are all of our law enforcement people completely blind or what?
Does anyone really think that requiring a prescription is going to make any difference in the end? Yeah it might put a dent in the trade for a month or two until the makers find a new way to get their pseudoephedrine.
They will undoubted start hijacking trucks that haul it to the stores then they will have a virtually unlimited supply!
So far as I know it has been illegal for anyone to have certain controlled substances (heroin, cocaine and marijuana) for example yet you can buy it on any street corner...so how is requiring a prescription going to make any real difference?
The only way to stop this is take the profit out!
If found guilty of manufacturing or distributing any quantity of a controlled substance execute them. Dead people don't make dope! It's just that easy!
Walkenstick, your comment is ridiculous and frankly its just plain ignorant! Yeah, lets execute all the drunks that are addicted to alcohol and oh don't stop there! Execute the tobacco smokers too.
Hell lets execute all the stupid people on this media too....I hope you realize your comment was just plain ridiculous. Remember Wallenstick, meth has killed FAR LESS PEOPLE then alcohol or tobacco! Meth is a poison no doubt about that. There has to be a better way to deal with the issue of drugs in this Country. Prohibition has NEVER worked and never will. It creates black markets which create money which in turn creates crime! Yep, there is a better way.
I'd better stock up!....oh wait...
Help me understand?
Will I be breaking a city ordinance/law if I buy Sudafed in IL (where no prescription is required) and bring it across state lines into any of these towns in MO that have passed this law since I am now in possession of a city ordained, prescription required, controlled substance that I purchased out of state where it is Over The Counter and legal to purchase and own?
For instance, if I live in Kennett, buy Sudafed in Cape, bring it back to Kennett, get stopped for speeding, and it's laying on my seat when the patrolman stops me - Am I busted for having a controlled substance in my possession and no proof of it being prescribed because in Cape I didn't need a prescription but now I am in Kennett. Does this make any sense?
mc9,
no it does NOT! I could not agree more.
Your question is a good one. As I see it the way they have presented this one would be in possession of a controled substance. Just another very good example of why this ordinance is ridiculous and and infringement upon our rights.
The bottom line is the people addicted to meth will simply go a town over to get their ingredients. The only thing this ban is going to do is momentarily stop them. Maybe if the judges would actually throw them in jail when they get caught instead of probabtion it might help this problem. This is a ridiculous ban. Honest people being punished because of drug users. Ludicrous.
Not everyone who buys lots of pseudofed is a criminal. I, too, go every month to get my "maximum monthly allotment" of pseudofed. With a deviated septum, and chronic allergic sinitis it makes a HUGE difference in my quality of life!
PS. I find the new "Pseudofed PE" to be worthless.
Barefoot and Turnip,
sudafed will not help your allergies. I would suggest you go to an Allergist and get shots or something. All of this OTC cold medicine is waay overrated. It seems as though you have developed a dependence on this drug. Here's a suggestion: stay home, drink plenty of liquids, get plenty of rest, and if your symptoms go away, it was a cold and you are much better for not contaminating those around you. If your symptoms dont' go away, see an allergist to determine what it is that you are allergic to. if you must take a cold medicine, the psuedofed PE will work just fine.
Beaker, you are entitled to your opinion but I think I'll stick with the suggestions of my physician. Zyrtec D helps my allergies just fine. The "D" helps to clear my head, opens my ears...ya know decongests. Dependence, my ars....the only dependence I HAD was on nicotine and I have successfully kicked that habit, well...I'm working on it anyway. Try again.
STUPID LIBERALS AND THEIR LAWS. That's all I got to say 'bout that!