Will Sudafed be missing from your First Aid Kit?
July 24, 2005 - Rick Curtis

Psuedoephedrine, a common medication for the relief of allergy and cold symptoms is being moved from over-the-counter status to a prescription drug in a number of states. The move comes in an effort to combat the production of the illegal and highly addictive drug Methamphetamine (aka meth, speed).

The change in status for Psuedoephedrine and ephedrine is an effort by law enforcement to crack down on illegal Meth labs across the country. Meth can be inexpensively produced using Psuedoephedrine as a base combined with battery acid, fertilizer or other readily available chemicals.

The laws differ from state to state. In some cases Psuedoephedrine and other products containing Psuedoephedrine are now being sold by prescription only. In other states the products are being moved behind the pharmacist's counter to better control distribution with limits on quantities sold at any one time.

Since many programs routinely carry Psuedoephedrine in their first aid kits it is clear that in the future purchasing the drug, particularly in larger amounts for large programs will become more difficult. In some states programs may be required to handle it as a controlled substance. Large programs that typically maintain significant quantities may need to handle and secure the drugs in different ways in the future.

Pfizer, a major pharmacuetical companies which produces the Sudafed brand of Psuedoephedrine has recently introduced a new product, Sudafed PE, which does not contain Psuedoephedrine. Sudafed PE contains phenylephrine, which cannot be converted into Methamphetamine.

States that have enacted laws include Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota with legislation pending in other states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New York, and Connecticut as well as possible federal legislation. The federal legislation (the Combat Meth Act of 2005) has been proposed by Senator Pete Domenici, R-N.M. If passed, the act would require that pseudoephedrine be sold only by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, and would limit buyers to 7.5 grams (7500 milligrams) of products containing the drug in a 30-day period. An average cold medicine pill contains about 30 milligrams of psuedoephedrine.

There's a thread about this somewhere. I honestly don't mind the minor inconvenience provided it makes a dent in the meth epidemic.

Kiddo, I am in complete agreement with you about this.

In addition to the imposition on me, a (law abiding) citizen, this isn't EVEN going to put a dent in meth production. Real meth manufacturers don't buy their Sudafed retail from Walgreens. They buy it by the pound from the same Mexican drug cartels that supply us with all of our cocaine and heroin and schwag marijuana.

It's just stupid reactionary legilation that will accomplish nothing positive.

Are you talking about Sudafed or gun control laws.

If you're smart you're getting your schwag marijuana from BC. Our grow-ops produce the finest bud in the world.

Kiddo, I am in complete agreement with you about this.

In addition to the imposition on me, a (law abiding) citizen, this isn't EVEN going to put a dent in meth production. Real meth manufacturers don't buy their Sudafed retail from Walgreens. They buy it by the pound from the same Mexican drug cartels that supply us with all of our cocaine and heroin and schwag marijuana.

It's just stupid reactionary legilation that will accomplish nothing positive.

you smoke pot from time to time, youre no law abiding citizen

Kiddo, I am in complete agreement with you about this.

In addition to the imposition on me, a (law abiding) citizen, this isn't EVEN going to put a dent in meth production. Real meth manufacturers don't buy their Sudafed retail from Walgreens. They buy it by the pound from the same Mexican drug cartels that supply us with all of our cocaine and heroin and schwag marijuana.

It's just stupid reactionary legilation that will accomplish nothing positive.

These laws have had a TREMENDOUS impact on meth labs here in Oklahoma. I can't remember the exact percentages, but it's pretty obvious that meth production is down here since these precautions started.

Yes. It sucks to be scrutinized when you aren't doing anything wrong. It sucks getting screened at the airport, too. This is really just shit you have to deal with because there are a lot of people out there that want to abuse the system.

I personally don't mind, but it doesn't really affect me all that much.

It's a powerful drug that has illegal uses. It should be more carefully regulated. I don't get what the BFD is to be honest.

Agreed. One of my friends here at school lives in Northeast Pennsylvania, and there are towns near him where you can drive around and smell the meth cooking everywhere. And its not these huge drug lords that are living in backwoods PA that have connections to the mexicans or whatever....its these little mom and pop labs people run out of their house and make enough to supply the local high school and towns around them. they're the ones getting shut down due to the lack of avaliability of sudafed and such drugs.

Meth is a powerful drug. Sudafed is not. People huff permanent markers and airplane glue too.

And I get the impression that you have not had to go through this exercise at a pharmacy to buy Sudafed, otherwise I think you'd understand the BFD.

Actually I have. And I did so gladly.

Can I look at your library records? It's for national security.

And I get the impression that you have not had to go through this exercise at a pharmacy to buy Sudafed, otherwise I think you'd understand the BFD.

I get the impression that you've never lived in a small community that's been ravaged by methamphetamine, otherwise I think you'd understand why filling out a little form isn't a BFD.

and i suppose you wouldn't know if i had an Rx for it, would you?

my migraine doctor is from the netherlands.

Hey, if it does work to stop those kind of labs, then great.

I'm no expert on cooking meth, but how much Sudafed do you need to make how much meth? It can't be a very efficient process. I'd think with the amount needed that there'd be a better way to prevent accumulation of that much by one person. Besides, wouldn't any criminal find an easy way around and ID-based system like this.