Letter to the editor: Blocking sales of pseudoephedrine is working
4.24.16– Lindsay Lindstrom, Tulsa World
For allergy sufferers like myself, springtime marks the beginning of a three-month battle with seasonal allergies as I endure itchy, red, swollen eyes, congested sinuses and a perpetually runny nose. Unfortunately, the only way for me to get relief is by taking nonprescription allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine, and it so happens that criminals try to purchase this medicine illegally for methamphetamine production.
To help fight back, Oklahoma took several approaches that, altogether, make up a successful formula. We have the pseudoephedrine sales-blocking system known as the National Precursor Log Exchange. We have strict purchase limits per-person, and we ban sales to previously convicted meth offenders.
In 2015, the exchange system proved itself by blocking the sale of 49,721 boxes, 125,192 grams, of pseudoephedrine to potential meth criminals in Oklahoma. Additionally, since blocking sales of pseudoephedrine to known drug offenders, Oklahoma has reported a nearly 90 percent decrease in meth lab incidents.
Recently, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released a study claiming several cities in Oklahoma to be some of the “most challenging places to live with spring allergies.” I need immediate and easy access to my allergy medications, so I’m glad our state has chosen the right approach to meth offenders, which is also the right approach for consumers, as well.
Read more here.