Pseudoephedrine. It's an effective and popular decongestant. It's been the key part of well-known cold medicines for years. But, like many over-the-counter drugs, it can be abused. On its own, it can become a stimulant. It's also an ingredient in crystal methamphetamine, a drug whose scourge is decimating communities across the country, including and especially Hawaii.
So new federal rules are coming that control the sale of drugs containing pseudoephedrine, slipped into the USA PATRIOT Act and effective Sept. 30.
Access to pseudoephedrine-containing drugs must be restricted (i.e. kept behind the register or pharmacy counter). The amount of those drugs that can be purchased will be limited. And ID will have to be shown and a log sheet signed.
Because the law isn't "live" yet, stores are at different stages of implementation. In the past month, I've noticed the following.
If you go to Star Market, all the drugs are still out on the shelves, and when I picked up two packs of Sudafed gelcaps, no one batted an eye. Maybe the gelcaps don't contain pseudoephedrine, though. I'm not sure.
If you go to Costco, all the drugs are still out on shelves, but you're informed at the register that you can only buy one package (per visit? per day? not sure).
If you go to Longs, the only thing you can find on the shelves are little cards that say, "Take this to the pharmacy." You grab one, stand in line, and ask for it. You're told up front, "You can buy only one." You show your ID, and sign a log. Presumably, their networked system will keep me from just going to another Longs for more.
I actually went to Longs, first, so I was a bit confused after finding no rigamarole at the other stores. Until Sept. 30, it looks like businesses at the stores that implement this law earlier will probably lose business... not because of illicit drug makers, but because it's a pain in the butt!
So new federal rules are coming that control the sale of drugs containing pseudoephedrine, slipped into the USA PATRIOT Act and effective Sept. 30.
Access to pseudoephedrine-containing drugs must be restricted (i.e. kept behind the register or pharmacy counter). The amount of those drugs that can be purchased will be limited. And ID will have to be shown and a log sheet signed.
Because the law isn't "live" yet, stores are at different stages of implementation. In the past month, I've noticed the following.
If you go to Star Market, all the drugs are still out on the shelves, and when I picked up two packs of Sudafed gelcaps, no one batted an eye. Maybe the gelcaps don't contain pseudoephedrine, though. I'm not sure.
If you go to Costco, all the drugs are still out on shelves, but you're informed at the register that you can only buy one package (per visit? per day? not sure).
If you go to Longs, the only thing you can find on the shelves are little cards that say, "Take this to the pharmacy." You grab one, stand in line, and ask for it. You're told up front, "You can buy only one." You show your ID, and sign a log. Presumably, their networked system will keep me from just going to another Longs for more.
I actually went to Longs, first, so I was a bit confused after finding no rigamarole at the other stores. Until Sept. 30, it looks like businesses at the stores that implement this law earlier will probably lose business... not because of illicit drug makers, but because it's a pain in the butt!
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