• Consumer Healthcare Products Association,  Methamphetamine

    Kentucky to Settle for Compromise Methamphetamine Legislation?

    Methamorphosis as a result of chronic Methamphetamine abuse

    Looks like methamphetaime making precurors pseudoephedrine and ephedrine’s best friend, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) is working its lobbying magic again.

    A compromise bill aimed at curbing methamphetamine production in Kentucky would place further restrictions on the sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

    Last week, Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, withdrew a bill that had made it to the Senate floor. That bill would have required a prescription for all medicines containing pseudoephedrine, except those in liquid or gelcap form.

    The new bill would only require a prescription for the medicines after a patient has purchased 3.6 grams per month and a maximum of 15 grams annually. Gelcaps and liquids would still be excluded.

    The bill would also prohibit anyone convicted of a meth-related offense from buying the drugs without a prescription for five years.

    Stivers said the new bill, Senate Bill 3, gives people who use the medications “adequate opportunity without incurring medical expenses or the cost of a prescription to access these on a monthly basis and an annual basis.”

    Currently, purchases are limited to 9 grams per month and 120 grams annually.

    Legislation aimed at requiring a prescription has been opposed by several senators and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, an industry group that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising and lobbying against the bills presented by Stivers.

    Yet, Kentucky had 1,200 Meth Labs discovered in 2011, which is an increased number from the previous year.

    This is all about money folks and just for a few drug manufacturers. I detailed the story earlier here.

    Kentucky like other states should simply require a prescription for pseudoephedrine and be done with the hometown or local Meth Lab. Then, law enforcement can concentrate on the importation of methamphetamine from Mexico.

    These compromise bills, including electronic tracking systems are just BS and not as effective.

    Who are the drug companies trying to fool?