Lipke proposes statewide prescription requirement to buy pseudoephedrine

Every attempt made by Missouri's leaders to shake the label as the nation's No. 1 state for methamphetamine labs has fallen short of the goal.

Since 2001, no other state has had as many clandestine labs or methamphetamine-related dumpsites, chemicals or glassware seizures, according to figures at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency website. In most of those years, Missouri has had one-sixth to one-fifth of all such incidents. Complete figures for 2009 are not available, but during the first three months of the year, 462 meth labs were busted in Missouri compared to 146 in Mississippi, which was No. 2.

The latest plan to control the meth problem is requiring a doctor's prescription to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine, a required ingredient for clandestine laboratories. Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson, has filed a bill mandating prescriptions for the second year in a row at the same time cities around the state have begun enacting their own local laws. The Kennett City Council is considering such a measure.

Scott Lipke

"It is certainly not something we are proud of," Lipke said of the state's ranking. "There are a lot of other things you would like to be No. 1 in."

The Missouri Legislature began its annual session Wednesday. Lipke's bill has not been assigned to a committee.

Fewer labs seized

The number of lab seizures in Missouri has fallen as laws restricting access to pseudoephedrine have been strengthened. The chemical, a powerful decongestant found in products like Sudafed, was first required to be moved close to a pharmacy counter. In 2005, products containing pseudoephedrine were moved behind pharmacy counters, the number of boxes per purchase was limited and a logbook recording who bought the medicines was required.

In 2001, Missouri had 2,180 lab incidents, or 16 percent of the national total. In 2008, Missouri had many fewer lab incidents, 1,471, but it represented 21.6 percent of the national total.

"I understand the hestitation people have when they look at something like this, saying 'Here's government trying to tell us what we can or can't do," Lipke said.

But he said he doesn't think it is time for partial measures. The pharmacy lobby wants to implement a computerized system for monitoring purchases, Lipke said. A prescription system will be more effective, he said, and no one who needs the medicine would be denied it.

"Anyone who has studied, as I have, the effect on families and communities I don't think is going to have a problem with what we are trying to do," he said.

Lipke said pseudoephedrine was a prescription drug in the 1970s. A few people may not be able to use over-the-counter alternatives, but their physicians will know that and they shouldn't be too inconvenienced, Lipke said.

One problem with the log book or a monitoring program, Lipke said, is that it can be defeated by meth lab cooks paying people to go purchase the maximum allowed. "Even with the log book, as good as it is, law enforcement has trouble keeping up."

rkeller@semissourian.com

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