Retail stores and law enforcement agencies soon will have a new way to track purchases of over-the-counter medications commonly used to make methamphetamine.
The state Board of Pharmacy recently adopted rules for an instant, electronic reporting and monitoring system.
Retailers and law enforcement are learning how to use the new system. The stores must start using the new system by Saturday.
State law limits how much over-the-counter cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine a customer can buy.
Stores must keep the medicines out of public reach and have customers sign their names and addresses in a log when buying the products. The new system will replace the written logs with electronic, real-time tracking.
Under the new system, store employees will scan a customer’s photo identification as well as the type and amount of cold medicine being bought.
The system will show the cashier whether the customer has exceeded the state limit of 3.6 grams a day per customer and more than 9 grams during a 30-day period.
“Information on the purchase of medication over the legal limits goes instantly to a database available to law enforcement,” according to the state Department of Health.
State statutes restricting access to medicine containing pseudoephedrine have curtailed the number of homemade meth labs found throughout the state.
“It has really declined, but it still is happening,” health department spokeswoman Julie Graham said.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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