On Wednesday, after listening to a very compassionate panel of local law enforcement professionals, social workers and health care workers, I came away with inescapable reality that methamphetamine is tearing apart the fabric of our communities, families, justice and legal systems and financial resources. The ferocity with which methamphetamine affects first-time users is catastrophic.
While the problem will not just go away, the supply of the only available methamphetamine precursor (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) needs to be choked off. A bill to reclassify pseudoephedrine from over-the-counter to prescription status is being introduced in January and co-sponsored by local State Representative Rebecca Kubacki. There are plenty of other over-the-counter decongestants containing phenylephrine (e.g. Triaminic) that do not pose the public health dangers of pseudoephedrine. If warranted, pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) will still be available by prescription.I urge you to support this important measure by contacting your state representative and state senator.
