Gov. Jay Nixon to discuss pseudoephedrine controls in Cape Girardeau

Gov. Jay Nixon will be in Cape Girardeau and three other Missouri cities today to announce what he calls a "significant proposed step" in the state's fight against methamphetamine.

While his office was mum on the specifics, several sources confirmed that Nixon will announce his support for the growing trend of requiring prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient to making the illegal and highly addictive drug.

Nixon will be accompanied by Attorney General Chris Koster and Col. Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Nixon is also planning stops in Carthage, Springfield and Arnold.

Nixon will appear at 1:45 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 40 S. Sprigg St.

Nixon's announcement comes as the Cape Girardeau City Council prepares to vote at its meeting next week to require prescriptions for decongestants like Sudafed and Claritin D, which contain pseudoephedrine. The council gave preliminary approval to the prescription ordinance at its last meeting and will have its final vote next Monday.

Mayor Harry Rediger said he was unaware of the governor's visit. He said he would have rather had pseudoephedrine regulated at the state level but that he is still prepared to vote yes on the ordinance. If it passes, it will take effect in December.

"At this point, I can't see my vote changing," Rediger said.

Since 2001, no other state has had as many clandestine labs or methamphetamine-related chemical or glassware seizures, according to federal statistics. Missouri was the first state in the U.S. where towns began passing prescription laws last year, starting with Union and Washington. Since then, Dexter, Jackson, Scott City and others have passed such laws.

Supporters say requiring a prescription for medicine containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine would curtail meth cooks who go to pharmacies and buy the maximum amount of the drug allowed by law at each. Supporters argue that visiting doctors and securing prescriptions would discourage many of the meth makers.

Under current Missouri law, people can buy up to 9 grams of pseudoephedrine every 30 days, which equates to about two 15-dose boxes of 24-hour Claritin D or six 24-dose boxes of Sudafed.

But not everyone supports such a move, including Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Opponents say requiring a prescription would increase costs for patients who need the medicine.

Sen. Jason Crowell, a Cape Girardeau Republican, has been involved in introducing statewide laws requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine the last two years only to see the measure fail to garner enough support in the Missouri Senate. Crowell said he intends to introduce, or support, another measure to require prescriptions next year.

Crowell was dismayed to see that the Walgreens in Cape Girardeau sold more pseudoephedrine than anywhere else in the state in October.

"I promise you, everyone who bought that from Walgreens did not use it as medicine," Crowell said. "I totally understand the arguments against it, but it's a balancing act. It's gotten out of hand."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO