Health News
- Uk Study Definitively Shows That Meth Labs Proliferate In State's Counties Where Pseudoephedrine Sales Are High
A University of Kentucky research study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week shows a direct correlation between pseudoephedrine sales and methamphetamine production in Kentucky counties. Pdeudoephedrine, the main ingredient...
- Opponents Of Meds-for-meth Bill Hold Teleconference
Since they were not given the opportunity to speak at last week's legislative hearing about a move to make pseudoephedrine available mainly by prescription, opponents held a teleconference yesterday to air their opinions. It was hosted by representatives...
- Require All To Have A Prescription For Pseudoephedrine, Or Just Meth Criminals? Officials Debate The Issue On Ket
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News If something isn't done now about the prevalence of methamphetamine in Kentucky, "We're going to lose a generation." That was one of the jarring comments from one of the public officials who discussed ways...
- Make Pseudoephedrine Available Only By Prescription And See What Effect It Has On Methamphetamine Making, Editorial Argues
The 2012 General Assembly should make the cold medicine pseudoephedrine available only by prescription to see if that curbs methamphetamine production, an editorial in the Lexington Herald-Leader argues. The editorial notes the plan of Democratic...
- As Meds-for-meth Bill Languishes, Some Seek Compromise, But Bill's Sponsor Says Proposals Would Render It Ineffective
By Al Cross and Tara Kaprowy Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues As the bill to require prescriptions for three widely used decongestants remains short of votes to pass the Senate, there is talk of a compromise measure to thwart the use...
Health News
Systems that track pseudoephedrine sales do not necessarily curb meth making, experiences of Ky. and other states show
Systems that track the sale of the key ingredient used to make methamphetamine have not decreased the manufacture of the highly addictive drug, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
The analysis shows meth-related activity has risen by 65 percent in Kentucky since sales have been tracked. Kentucky is one of only three states nationwide that electronically monitors pseudoephedrine and ephedrine sales. Arkansas and Oklahoma also track their sales, and also had more meth-related incidents than the rest of the country ? up by 34 percent in Arkansas and 164 percent in Oklahoma.
The analysis shows meth-related activity has risen by 65 percent in Kentucky since sales have been tracked. Kentucky is one of only three states nationwide that electronically monitors pseudoephedrine and ephedrine sales. Arkansas and Oklahoma also track their sales, and also had more meth-related incidents than the rest of the country ? up by 34 percent in Arkansas and 164 percent in Oklahoma.
The tracking systems record the buyer's name during the purchase of the cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine. The system also limits how much of the drug can be bought at one time at one location. If a customer has already met the limit for the month, the pharmacist is immediately notified.
Supporters say the tracking systems make it easier for authorities to investigate meth-related crime, but critics say the systems promote "smurfing," in which "meth producers recruit friends, acquaintances, strangers and even their own children to buy pills," AP reports. "It's almost like a sub-criminal culture," said Drug Enforcement Administration agent Gary Boggs told the news service. "You'll see them with a GPS unit set up in a van with a list of every single pharmacy or retail outlet. They'll spend the entire week going store to store and buy to the limit."
Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain, a leading meth expert in Kentucky, defended the tracking systems. "One reason these numbers have gone up is because of law enforcement's ability to track and locate the people producing meth," he said. "If we pull the plug on electronic tracking, we lose the ability to see where these labs are at."
Despite the controversy, several other states are either implementing or considering the implementation of tracking systems. The move is cost effective and the pharmaceutical industry is is full support of it. "That is far cheaper than one alternative ? making the medication available only by prescription," AP reports. (Read more)
- Uk Study Definitively Shows That Meth Labs Proliferate In State's Counties Where Pseudoephedrine Sales Are High
A University of Kentucky research study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week shows a direct correlation between pseudoephedrine sales and methamphetamine production in Kentucky counties. Pdeudoephedrine, the main ingredient...
- Opponents Of Meds-for-meth Bill Hold Teleconference
Since they were not given the opportunity to speak at last week's legislative hearing about a move to make pseudoephedrine available mainly by prescription, opponents held a teleconference yesterday to air their opinions. It was hosted by representatives...
- Require All To Have A Prescription For Pseudoephedrine, Or Just Meth Criminals? Officials Debate The Issue On Ket
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News If something isn't done now about the prevalence of methamphetamine in Kentucky, "We're going to lose a generation." That was one of the jarring comments from one of the public officials who discussed ways...
- Make Pseudoephedrine Available Only By Prescription And See What Effect It Has On Methamphetamine Making, Editorial Argues
The 2012 General Assembly should make the cold medicine pseudoephedrine available only by prescription to see if that curbs methamphetamine production, an editorial in the Lexington Herald-Leader argues. The editorial notes the plan of Democratic...
- As Meds-for-meth Bill Languishes, Some Seek Compromise, But Bill's Sponsor Says Proposals Would Render It Ineffective
By Al Cross and Tara Kaprowy Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues As the bill to require prescriptions for three widely used decongestants remains short of votes to pass the Senate, there is talk of a compromise measure to thwart the use...