Chemists cut stocks of cold drugs

While the Government has decided not to ban cold and flu medicines containing the key ingredient needed to make pure methamphetamine, an increasing number of pharmacies are taking that decision for themselves.

Pseudoephedrine, a major ingredient in many medicines, soothes coughs and colds but is also used in manufacturing the illegal drug methamphetamine (also known as P or speed).

In February, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said the Health Ministry had advised against banning the cold drugs on the grounds it could do more harm than good, and for now he was prepared to follow their advice.

However, an increasing number of pharmacies, notably in Gisborne and Rotorua, have adopted a voluntary ban on pseudoephedrine-based medicines.

Bay of Plenty and Northland pharmacies - among others - are also taking measures to eliminate or limit their stocks of the medicines due to health concerns, and also because of repeated burglaries from people wanting to steal the pills to manufacture drugs.

"This winter the criminal element will be hard pushed to find anyone stocking it," Tauranga chemist and Pharmacy Guild representative Nigel Gregor said.

Mr Gregor said he refused to stock the products after being broken into twice by thieves who stole pseudoephedrine-based medicines.

Fellow Tauranga pharmacist Philip Rowe refused to stock pseudoephedrine-based products last October after being broken into twice in a month.

Mr Rowe said once he had declared he would no longer stock the drugs the problem disappeared immediately.

Seven months on there have been no further break-ins. It had come at a $30,000 financial loss a year but Mr Rowe said ethically it was the right thing to do.

In Northland, chemist Chris Porter said to his knowledge no pharmacies were stocking the products on the shelf in Whangarei.

"Most pharmacies have come together and have decided not to stock it at all, carry minimal stocks, or order one item in overnight on a case-by-case basis," he said.

Northland pharmacists asked people trying to buy the medicines to fill out a form and provide photo identification.

Mr Porter said it had reduced the number of people asking for the medication - both "suspicious" and not.

Maunu Rd Pharmacy owner Barry Rowe said he was not stocking any pseudoephedrine-based products at all.

- NZPA