West Virginia’s NPLEx System Making Progress In Battle Against Meth
National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
January 20, 2015
LUTHERVILLE, Md., Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) today applauded the positive results achieved by West Virginia’s real-time, stop-sale pseudoephedrine (PSE) tracking system in 2014.
The National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) system automatically blocks unlawful PSE purchases at the point of sale and helps flag meth offenders for law enforcement. Police officers and narcotics agents often set up NPLEx “watch lists” that notify them via email when a meth suspect attempts to make a PSE purchase. The year-end NPLEx data shows that in 2014 in West Virginia, the technology blocked the sale of 13,960 boxes of medicine containing pseudoephedrine keeping 37,587 grams out of the hands of potential meth criminals.
Additionally, West Virginia sold 29.71 percent fewer boxes of PSE compared to 2013. The number of individual purchasers was further reduced by 19.56 percent.
“NPLEx has been a great resource helping reduce meth crime in West Virginia,” said Charles F. Cichon, executive director of NADDI. “Pharmacists and law enforcement officers have been able to work together to stop and arrest those who attempt to purchase more pseudoephedrine than legally allowed. The reduction in illegal pseudoephedrine purchases helped lead to a big reduction in meth labs in 2014.”
About NADDI
The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that facilitates cooperation between law enforcement, healthcare professionals, state regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the investigation and prevention of prescription drug abuse and diversion. NADDI also sponsors and conducts specialized educational seminars and conferences.
SOURCE National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators