Bill would require ID to buy Sudafed
Supporters call meth destructive
By Amy Bauer
Wisconsin legislators are proposing a bill to prevent methamphetamine producers from easily accessing the drug's main ingredient, pseudoephedrine, in stores.
The legislation would make pseudoephedrine, an ingredient also found in nonprescription cold medicines like Sudafed, available only behind the pharmacy counter. The bill states people purchasing such drugs must sign a registry and present picture identification.
Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), the Senate's lead author of the bill, said it was drafted due to a recent increase in methamphetamine production and use in northwestern Wisconsin.
"The message has been loud and clear that it's creating a huge problem in our part of the state," Harsdorf said. "The drug is highly addictive with a very low rate of recovery."
The legislators have talked with law enforcement officials, judges and parents in formulating the bill, according to Harsdorf. She said increasing prevalence of the drug is causing many problems.
"Not only are we losing a lot of life but it's destroying families, a cost to law enforcement and a cost to courts," she said.
According to Rusty Payne, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, other states have passed legislation similar to Wisconsin's bill and experienced a significant downturn in methamphetamine production.
"One state that appears to be having success is Oklahoma," Payne said. "Folks in Oklahoma are now saying meth lab seizures are down 80 percent from one year ago."
Payne said meth production is more predominant in the Midwest.
"One of the reasons meth is more common in the Midwest is because it can stay under the radar in more rural areas," he said. "Being out of sight is better for the manufacturers and traffickers."
According to the administration's National Meth Clandestine Laboratory Database, there were 74 incidents of meth labs, dump sites or production equipment seized in Wisconsin in 2004.
The legislation would make pseudoephedrine, an ingredient also found in nonprescription cold medicines like Sudafed, available only behind the pharmacy counter. The bill states people purchasing such drugs must sign a registry and present picture identification.
Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), the Senate's lead author of the bill, said it was drafted due to a recent increase in methamphetamine production and use in northwestern Wisconsin.
"The message has been loud and clear that it's creating a huge problem in our part of the state," Harsdorf said. "The drug is highly addictive with a very low rate of recovery."
The legislators have talked with law enforcement officials, judges and parents in formulating the bill, according to Harsdorf. She said increasing prevalence of the drug is causing many problems.
"Not only are we losing a lot of life but it's destroying families, a cost to law enforcement and a cost to courts," she said.
According to Rusty Payne, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, other states have passed legislation similar to Wisconsin's bill and experienced a significant downturn in methamphetamine production.
"One state that appears to be having success is Oklahoma," Payne said. "Folks in Oklahoma are now saying meth lab seizures are down 80 percent from one year ago."
Payne said meth production is more predominant in the Midwest.
"One of the reasons meth is more common in the Midwest is because it can stay under the radar in more rural areas," he said. "Being out of sight is better for the manufacturers and traffickers."
According to the administration's National Meth Clandestine Laboratory Database, there were 74 incidents of meth labs, dump sites or production equipment seized in Wisconsin in 2004.
Published: 2/17/05 Section: News
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