Facts about Meth Precursors
Background Restrictions on the sale of meth precursors (products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine) have been an important issue for FMI members, especially since the passage of the Oklahoma law last session. In an effort to reduce the meth problem, the state was the first to classify precursor products as Schedule V. Now, in Oklahoma, only licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are allowed to sell the drug. All products must be kept behind the pharmacy counter and stores without pharmacies can no longer sell products containing pseudoephedrine. Customers must show photo ID and sign a log to buy affected products. Furthermore, sales are restricted to no more than nine grams in a 30-day period. Several other states are considering Oklahoma-style legislation this year. Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a decongestant (reduces swelling in sinuses). Over-the-counter drug products either contain pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient or in combination with other ingredients. Single active ingredient pseudoephedrine products are most favored by meth cooks because they give them the highest yield and purity. Product examples of single active ingredient pseudoephedrine: • Sudafed and its generic equivalents. • Contac 12-Hour Caplets Combination pseudoephedrine products can also be converted into meth, but they are not favored by meth cooks due to marginal yield and purity. Some manufacturers are trying to get their products exempt from the Oklahoma law due to recent evidence that their combination products have been formulated to serve as an effective deterrent because meth cooks get little yield and pseudoephedrine purity from them. Product examples of combination pseudoephedrine: • Advil Cold and Sinus Tabs, Tylenol Cold Day/Night Tabs, Drixoral Cold Tablets A regional chain typically carries about 10 varieties of single active ingredient pseudoephedrine products and 230 combination products. National chains may carry as many as 20 single active ingredient pseudoephedrine products and up to 300 combination products. Most state legislatures, including Oklahoma, have exempted liquids, liquid-filled capsules and gel capsules from their sales restriction initiatives if pseudoephedrine is not the only active ingredient. These products can be converted into meth, but the yield and purity of pseudoephedrine is very low. Unfortunately, most lawmakers do not consider all pediatric products for exemption. It is important to note that there are about 70 children’s products on the market today that are not in liquid form. See the following language for the better alternative for pediatric exemptions: This section does not apply to pediatric products primarily intended for administration, according to label instructions, to children under 12 years of age, either:
(i) In solid dosage form when individual dosage units do not exceed 15 milligrams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine; or (ii) In liquid form when recommended dosage units, according to label instructions, do not exceed 15 milligrams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine per five milliliters of liquid product; or (iii) In liquid form that are primarily intended for administration to children under two years of age for whom the recommended dosage does not exceed two milliliters and that have a total package content of not more than one fluid ounce. Ephedrine (EPH) is a bronchodilator (widens the air passages of the lungs). Ephedrine can also be used in the manufacture of meth so it is included in state sales restriction legislation, although pseudoephedrine is the main concern. • Product examples include Bronkaid Caplets and Primatene Tablets Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is also a precursor product and is included in sales restriction legislation. However, in 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated steps to remove phenylpropanolamine from all drug products and requested that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing phenylpropanolamine. It is not used by manufacturers in products sold on the market today. However, until regulations prohibiting the use of phenylpropanolamine are finalized, it will still be included in legislative language. Phenylephrine is NOT a meth precursor. It cannot be converted into meth, and is being used by Pfizer in its new cough and cold product, Sudafed PE. However, phenylephrine is not a new drug and it may not be as effective as pseudoephedrine in treating cough and cold ailments. Scheduled Drugs The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of of 1970, is the legal foundation of the U.S. government’s fight against the abuse of drugs and other substances. This law is a consolidation of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressans, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances. The CSA places all substances that are regulated under existing federal law into one of five schedules. This placement is based upon the substance's medicinal value, harmfulness and potential for abuse or addiction. Schedule I is supposed to be reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use, while Schedule V is the classification used for the least dangerous drugs. For retailers, Schedule V means the product must be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy technician, but a prescription is not always necessary. Tylenol Codeine is an example of a Schedule V drug, however, in most states a prescription is required. Another example is Robitussin-AC. Most state boards of pharmacy require a log of customer information with at least the initials of the pharmacists for Schedule V sales. There are also numerous requirements for distributors of Scheduled drugs.