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Bluelighter
The Senate's Human Side Shows In War On Meth
NPR
By April Fulton
April 13, 2010
Senators like to hold hearings to show how smart they are, and how strong they are on a particular issue. But sometimes, when the problems are complex and there's no clear political gain for one party over another, they show a little humanity.
That's what Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), did today while chairing a hearing of the Senate Drug Caucus about making pseudoephedrine -- a popular nasal decongestant and the key ingredient in the production of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine -- a prescription only-product nationwide.
Meth or ice, as it's sometimes known, is a highly addictive stimulant but blamed for an increase in property crimes, identity theft and child abuse. It's pretty easy to make by "cooking" the pseudoephedrine found in such cold medicines as Sudafed and Claritin-D, which are currently available only behind the pharmacy counter. Accidents in so-called meth labs have caused fires and left toxic waste sites in neighborhoods.
Feinstein appeared to be favoring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine. Her colleague Ron Wyden (D-OR) sure is. Oregon made pseudoephedrine a prescription-only product in 2006, and it appears to have dramatically reduced the number of meth labs in the state. Plus, Wyden said, "in 2009, the crime rate dropped by 10 percent. The Oregon criminal justice system pointed to our law as a major factor."
But Feinstein's co-chair, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) argued that giving the product prescription status goes too far, would inconvenience patients and cost the health system more.
He said states should be allowed to use an integrated electronic tracking system to help them catch "smurfs" -- shadowy shoppers who buy as much of the medicine as a store is allowed to sell without a prescription and then turn it over to meth makers.
But Kent Shaw, assistant chief of the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement pointed out, "smurfs" are increasingly using fake IDs as a way to buy more of the products. "That's not actionable intelligence that we can do anything with," he said at the hearing.
Feinstein was clearly conflicted, but she finally turned away from the mics and toward Grassley. "Chuck, I don't know what else to do but put it behind the counter, make it prescription," Feinstein said."If I didn't think the drug were so damaging to people, I might say, let's continue with tracking."
She also expressed frustration that every time Congress steps in to address problems with illegal drugs, the marketers and the traffickers step in to exploit a new loophole.
Grassley just nodded and finished his line of questioning. They agreed to disagree.
NPR
By April Fulton
April 13, 2010
Senators like to hold hearings to show how smart they are, and how strong they are on a particular issue. But sometimes, when the problems are complex and there's no clear political gain for one party over another, they show a little humanity.
That's what Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), did today while chairing a hearing of the Senate Drug Caucus about making pseudoephedrine -- a popular nasal decongestant and the key ingredient in the production of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine -- a prescription only-product nationwide.
Meth or ice, as it's sometimes known, is a highly addictive stimulant but blamed for an increase in property crimes, identity theft and child abuse. It's pretty easy to make by "cooking" the pseudoephedrine found in such cold medicines as Sudafed and Claritin-D, which are currently available only behind the pharmacy counter. Accidents in so-called meth labs have caused fires and left toxic waste sites in neighborhoods.
Feinstein appeared to be favoring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine. Her colleague Ron Wyden (D-OR) sure is. Oregon made pseudoephedrine a prescription-only product in 2006, and it appears to have dramatically reduced the number of meth labs in the state. Plus, Wyden said, "in 2009, the crime rate dropped by 10 percent. The Oregon criminal justice system pointed to our law as a major factor."
But Feinstein's co-chair, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) argued that giving the product prescription status goes too far, would inconvenience patients and cost the health system more.
He said states should be allowed to use an integrated electronic tracking system to help them catch "smurfs" -- shadowy shoppers who buy as much of the medicine as a store is allowed to sell without a prescription and then turn it over to meth makers.
But Kent Shaw, assistant chief of the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement pointed out, "smurfs" are increasingly using fake IDs as a way to buy more of the products. "That's not actionable intelligence that we can do anything with," he said at the hearing.
Feinstein was clearly conflicted, but she finally turned away from the mics and toward Grassley. "Chuck, I don't know what else to do but put it behind the counter, make it prescription," Feinstein said."If I didn't think the drug were so damaging to people, I might say, let's continue with tracking."
She also expressed frustration that every time Congress steps in to address problems with illegal drugs, the marketers and the traffickers step in to exploit a new loophole.
Grassley just nodded and finished his line of questioning. They agreed to disagree.
