Health News
The state's two biggest newspapers are in agreement: pseudoephedrine should be available by prescription only in order to curb methamphetamine production. The Courier-Journal offered its opinion in an editorial today: "Meth remains a scourge in Kentucky. It is not going to go away soon and without strong action its deadly, family-shattering impact will not diminish."
- 'meds For Meth' Bill Is About To Become Law Despite Heavy Lobbying Campaign By Pharmaceutical Companies
The bill to limit purchases of a popular cold medicine used to make methamphetamine passed the General Assembly today and Gov. Steve Beshear said he would sign it. The Senate voted 29-8 to approve changes the House made in Senate Bill 3, sponsored by...
- Meds-for-meth Compromise Bill Introduced
Lawmakers said they would compromise on the idea of making pseudoephedrine available only by prescription, and they have. Senate Bill 3 would only require a prescription for medicines containing the drug after a patient has bought 3.6 grams of it per...
- Meds-for-meth Bill Sent Back To Committee; Compromise In The Works, Original Sponsor Says
The bill that would make pseudoephedrine ? the key ingredient to make methamphetamine ? available only by prescription was taken off the Senate floor Thursday afternoon. The bill's original sponsor, Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, said "he expects a compromise...
- Senate Committee Narrowly Passes Meds-for-meth Bill As Advocates Start Their Own Radio Advertising Campaign
In the face of a strong lobbying effort by makers of over-the-counter cold medicines, a state Senate committee narrowly approved a bill today that would require a prescription for most products containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used to make...
- Sponsor Of Meds-for-meth Bill Now Willing To Accept Compromise Excluding Gel Capsules And Liquids
Legislators wanting to pass a bill that would make the key component to make methamphetamine available only by prescription are now willing to make a concession that they would not accept last week. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said "supporters...
Health News
Courier-Journal editorialists change position and join the Herald-Leader in supporting meds-for-meth legislation
The state's two biggest newspapers are in agreement: pseudoephedrine should be available by prescription only in order to curb methamphetamine production. The Courier-Journal offered its opinion in an editorial today: "Meth remains a scourge in Kentucky. It is not going to go away soon and without strong action its deadly, family-shattering impact will not diminish."The position represents an about-face for the paper in Louisville, where the editorial board previously felt "such a restriction would create unnecessary burdens and expenses for legitimate users of pseudoephedrine."
However, with the meth problem not going away ? there were a record 1,080 labs discovered in 2010 ? the newspaper has changed its position, though acknowledged prescription-only will create some problems of its own: "'Pill mills' will likely dispense pseudoephedrine, just as they now illegally and unethically flood the market with pain medication, and police will have to crack down on such sales."
In December, the Lexington Herald-Leader offered its position, backing a prescription-only pills bill by Rep. Linda Belcher, D-Shepherdsville. "Methamphetamine would be a scourge if it hurt only those who ingested it. But the harm is far more widespread than that," it reads. "Highly mobile and as compact as a large soft-drink bottle, the meth-making process creates a risk of toxic exposure, respiratory injury and fire to all who come close."
The Courier-Journal backs Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, and Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, which is similar to Belcher's bill. It narrowly cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, but opposition to it "has hardened" in the Senate, the editorial reads. (Read more)
- 'meds For Meth' Bill Is About To Become Law Despite Heavy Lobbying Campaign By Pharmaceutical Companies
The bill to limit purchases of a popular cold medicine used to make methamphetamine passed the General Assembly today and Gov. Steve Beshear said he would sign it. The Senate voted 29-8 to approve changes the House made in Senate Bill 3, sponsored by...
- Meds-for-meth Compromise Bill Introduced
Lawmakers said they would compromise on the idea of making pseudoephedrine available only by prescription, and they have. Senate Bill 3 would only require a prescription for medicines containing the drug after a patient has bought 3.6 grams of it per...
- Meds-for-meth Bill Sent Back To Committee; Compromise In The Works, Original Sponsor Says
The bill that would make pseudoephedrine ? the key ingredient to make methamphetamine ? available only by prescription was taken off the Senate floor Thursday afternoon. The bill's original sponsor, Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, said "he expects a compromise...
- Senate Committee Narrowly Passes Meds-for-meth Bill As Advocates Start Their Own Radio Advertising Campaign
In the face of a strong lobbying effort by makers of over-the-counter cold medicines, a state Senate committee narrowly approved a bill today that would require a prescription for most products containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used to make...
- Sponsor Of Meds-for-meth Bill Now Willing To Accept Compromise Excluding Gel Capsules And Liquids
Legislators wanting to pass a bill that would make the key component to make methamphetamine available only by prescription are now willing to make a concession that they would not accept last week. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said "supporters...