Cities leading anti-meth drive

BOISE – Stores in southern Idaho cities would be forced to more closely regulate the sale of cold medicines under proposed rules from local officials who want to prevent the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The Treasure Valley Partnership, including city leaders in Ada and Canyon counties, seeks to curb the spread of the drug that U.S. law enforcement agencies now call their No. 1 threat by limiting the availability of pseudoephedrine.

Meth, an addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, is usually produced in clandestine labs using relatively inexpensive over-the-counter cold tablets and common household chemicals.

The proposed measure would force buyers of cold and allergy medicine such as Sudafed and Claritin D to ask store employees for it, and limit purchases to three packages a day.

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and Eagle Mayor Nancy Merrill said getting their counterparts in cities across Idaho to pass such an ordinance could pressure Idaho lawmakers to adopt a statewide law limiting pseudoephedrine sales.

Though neighboring states including Oregon have passed such restrictions, an Idaho bill that would have required decongestants containing pseudoephedrine only be sold by pharmacists died during the 2005 legislative session.

A majority of state lawmakers said it would have been too much of a burden on businesses and residents.

“As mayors here in the Treasure Valley, we said if we can’t do it through the state level, we can do it on a city level,” Merrill said, adding that she hopes city councils will adopt the law by October.

This month, Oregon became the first state to require prescriptions for everyday cold and allergy medications that can be converted into methamphetamine.

In addition, large retailers such as Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart and Target decided earlier this year to begin voluntarily moving many nonprescription cold and allergy medications from shelves to secure areas behind pharmacy counters.

Lawmakers in Idaho who opposed restrictions on pseudoephedrine sales during the 2005 session criticized the efforts of Bieter and Merrill, arguing that stores can manage the issue by themselves and that most methamphetamine coming into the state originates in so-called “superlabs” in Mexico, not local manufacturing labs.

“I am of the old school where I don’t want to flock shoot for the 3 percent of people that are breaking the law,” said Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston.

Last year, about 54 meth labs were found statewide. In 2000, there were 181.

Law enforcement officials estimate that statewide they are busting about 10 percent of meth labs.

Meth abuse has become the nation’s leading drug problem, according to a recent survey of 500 sheriff’s departments in 45 states.

Anti-drug groups including a coalition in Meridian, a Boise suburb, said that any additional restrictions that cities can pass will aide their cause.

“I would just as soon have to go through the trouble (of asking store employees for cold medicine), rather than have a meth lab in my neighborhood, which is hazardous,” said Karla Morton, vice president of the coalition.