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 Health & Beauty | July 2005 
Oregon Lawmakers Step Up Fight Vs. Meth
 Charles E. Beggs - Wire services
| | Crystal methamphetamine (Photo: Craig T. Kojima) |
Oregon would become the first state to require a prescription for many types of cold medicines under a bill overwhelmingly passed Wednesday by the House as part of an attack on methamphetamine.
Pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in popular over-the counter medicines such as Sudafed and Sinutab, is used to make meth, an illegal and powerfully addictive drug.
The bill was sent to the Senate on a 55-4 vote. Supporters said they expect the measure to pass in the Senate, and it is supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
"A plague has spread across America," said state Rep. Greg Macpherson, a Democrat. "This is what we must do in this state to get this problem under control."
Oregon, like several other states, already restricts the sale of pseudoephedrine tablets to pharmacies and requires that the medications be kept behind the counter. Customers must also show identification.
But Macpherson said he joined three other legislators Monday to shop for cold medicines and easily bought enough in an hour to make drugs that would supply four meth users for several weeks.
Opponents of the bill complained that it was too radical and that the public will not support the additional restrictions.
"I don't know that I'm willing to punish the many for the sins of the few," said Republican Rep. Tom Butler.
Drug maker Schering-Plough, which manufactures the allergy remedy Claritin, is running radio ads in the Portland market opposing the measure.
If the bill becomes law, "the days of just going to the store for these trusted and effective products is over. You would have to go to your doctor first," the ad says.
Some drug companies have begun reformulating cold medicines with substitutes for pseudoephedrine that cannot be used in meth labs.
Pfizer Inc., which makes the decongestant Sudafed and other leading pseudoephedrine products, is marketing a pseudoephedrine-free version of the drug and plans by January to reformulate up to half of the products with a substitute known as phenylephrine. |
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