Oregon anti-meth law would require prescriptions

Reuters ^ | 7 31 05 | Reuters

[oldfarmer]

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A bill passed by lawmakers on Saturday would make Oregon the first U.S. state to require a doctor's prescription for cold medicines containing an ingredient that can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine.

"We hope this will reduce the supply" of meth, Democratic state Sen. Ginny Burdick told Reuters after the Senate passed the bill.

Oregon's House of Representatives approved the measure earlier this month and Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski was expected to sign it.

The bill has widespread support, but critics say it would hurt people without medical insurance who cannot afford to go to a doctor for a cold or an allergy.

Although much of the nation's meth supply is produced in large labs in Mexico, the addictive drug can be made in smaller labs with easily available equipment and ingredients, including cold or allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said recently that meth had surpassed marijuana as the drug posing the greatest danger to the nation's children

[Hildy]

The Tylenol killer makes my life far more miserable on a daily basis than any meth chemist.

huh?

[robertpaulsen]

"I thought that the Supreme Court just said that growing your own medical marijuana in your back yard was interstate commerce and that it was up to the Feds to regulate medicines."

No. They said that growing your own medical marijuana in your back yard has a substantial effect on Congress' constitutional regulation of the interstate commerce of marijuana.

It's up to the Feds to regulate medicines -- or not regulate medicines.

[Cold Heart]

Oregon government is collectively so corrupt and stupid it's hard to know where to start on some of these bills they come up with.

The one common denominator of liberalism is to protect criminals and punish innocent citizens.

[MRMEAN]

Thus the anti-freedom Nazis must ruin it for everyone...guess we need to start automatically burning down all meth houses and appartments. All those convicted of producing meth should be immediately sentenced to the firing squad (or to be hanged).

That is one very confused post.

[Grampa Dave]

We live in California, and last week, my wife and I discussed this terrible law with a local pharmacist with relatives, who are pharmacists in Oregon.

They all feel that this is a terrible law. Apparently even compounds like Nyquil and Dayquil will now require an rx.

They estimate that an Rx cost for a 5 to 7 day supply of these simple products will be in the $20 to $30 range. Of course no RX plans will cover the cost of an over the counter drug.

Then add the cost of the visit to see the MD. These Oregon Pharmacists see the cost of a visit and a week of drug costing up to $100.

There are rumors that there will be no refills and a strict limit of about a week's supply on the refills.

[robertpaulsen]

In the Chicago area in 1982, a person tampered with Tylenol capsules, filling them with cyanide and returning them to the store shelves. Seven people died.

Thanks to him/her, medicines are in bottles I can't open without using my teeth and packaging where I have to use a knife or scissors to open. Too young to remember these?

Life was much simpler prior to 1982.

[SunnySide]

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A bill passed by lawmakers on Saturday would make Oregon the first U.S. state to require a doctor's prescription for cold medicines containing an ingredient that can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine.

...............................

I think this blows. Why "again" should a messed up irresponsible, criminalistic minority ruin it for millions of minor allergy/cold sufferers. I think states should keep it the way they have it now, the higher end medicines behind the counter and one box of each brand of the cheaper medicines on the shelf. Besides I heard last week a pharmiceutical company is changing the ingredients so the ingredients used in meth will no longer be available.

[Hildy]

Yea, I remember that. Not too young.

[used2BDem]

They were put in locked cases here, about a year ago, I guess. Just like cigarettes. We live in a very small town with 1 store. When it's busy, you can wait 10-15 minutes for allergy or cold medicines. I don't see how this will help Oregon's meth problem. They ARE criminals and WILL find another way to get it, while 'normal' people are paying $53.00 to see the doctor for a piece of paper.

[JimSEA]

It's hard to believe that the Oregonian legislature could create any law more idiotic than the sidewalk crossing law or the 20 mph school zones 24 hours a day, but they did!

A $85 cold capsule bump from Roseburg. At least you in the Portland area can drive into Washington. Excellent letter.

[Know your rights]

it would hurt people without medical insurance who cannot afford to go to a doctor for a cold or an allergy.

Not to mention effectively requiring doctors to enforce non-medical regulations. Meth is awful stuff ... but these hysterical responses are getting out of hand.

[SunnySide]

"They ARE criminals and WILL find another way to get it, while 'normal' people are paying $53.00 to see the doctor for a piece of paper."

Precisely. Doesn't this blow your mind? Once again us law abiding working stiffs are the ones who are being punished through our wallets. You know darn well the law breakers will figure some other angle out.

[ex-Texan]

The BIG BOYS who control meth in Portland buy supplies of precursor chemicals in 50 gallon drums. The essence of this legislation is the DemonRATS protecting their biggest contributors by putting mom and pop operations out of business. 'Follow the money,' I would be shouting if anyone in government asked me. Kulongoski and Burdick know the truth but are guaranteed local media attention by sponsoring this legislation. But after the law is in force, the Oregon Health Plan will be crying that they cannot pay for simple things like emergency care and medication for flu patients. At $ 110 cost per doctors visit, it is obvious that somebody is getting their palms greased. I could write to the Oregonian, but I know the lawyers that control what is published in that rag. Everything in this state is controlled from the top.

Boil everything down to simple questions and you will get the answers. Who is profiting and why? DUH! But I'm just a geezer trapped in the Peoples Republic of Oregon. Thank God that I'll be moving next year.

[SunnySide]

"Meth is awful stuff ... but these hysterical responses are getting out of hand."

I agree, I say put chronic meth violators in prison for five years instead of the slap on the wrist garbage. Let them dry out, make them do county road work or whatever and STOP punishing honest, hard working Americans!!!

[SunnySide]

add, put chronic violators in prison and if needed build more cells because tax payers will get a return on their prison cell investments when these law breakers are WORKING off their incarcerated time by doing county road clean up, road repair or any other local work which is needed on a weekly basis. The CURRENT jail, prison country club SCENARIO NEEDS TO End NOW!

[robertpaulsen]

On the plus side, those with prescription insurance now get this medication covered, yes?

Remember the recent brouhaha when they made that allegy drug (Allegra, Claritin?) over-the-counter and thus not covered by insurance?

[Delphinium]

They will just go to California, Idaho, and Washington. Or easier yet buy from the Mexican Mafia, there are lots of them.

[robertpaulsen]

"while 'normal' people are paying $53.00 to see the doctor for a piece of paper."

Hmmmmm. This doesn't seem to bother the medical marijuana supporters. Hell, recreational pot smokers medical marijuana patients would gladly pay double that to get a "prescription" for their "medicine".

(Not to change the subject.)

[SunnySide]

That isn't my post, so.......

[used2BDem]

Yes, it does. I really feel for people with children. I have a friend who is raising her 6 grandchildren. She said, "You know they never all get sick at once. I'll be living at the doctors office when cold/flu season starts!" This is just ridiculous. It is hard enough to get an appointment now as it is. I can't imagine what it will be like once this scam goes into effect.