Drivers license now needed to buy Aleve Cold & Sinua...

[Missy M]

when buying Aleve Cold & Sinus at Walmart you now have to show your drivers license and the pharmacy takes all the info off the license. They said this is a new law and all places selling it will have to do that procedure. Walmart decided to comply immediately. I think our lawmakers in this country are going too far. When will all of this madness stop.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I believe this is a move against

Meth Labs?

[niyad]

2. and what, pray tell, is the theoretical purpose of this law? I, for one,

am now going to contact aleve, and tell them that, regardless of who is responsible for this BS, I will not be purchasing any of their products.

[benburch]

6. And how is it Aleve's problem???

I cannot understand what you hope to accomplish?

[niyad]

7. the bayer company is large enough to put enough pressure on those

jackasses in congress to stop this bs, especially if they realize they are going to lose a lot of sales over it

If you have any questions about Aleve or Bayer products and would like other
information, please feel free to contact us by using any of the methods below.

Phone:
1-800-331-4536


Mail: Bayer Consumer Care Division
36 Columbia Road
P.O. Box 1910
Morristown, NJ 07962-1910

[BeTheChange]

16. Im sure you'd rather enable meth epidemic then be bothered to show..

your drivers liscense.

Ive seen the devastation that meth leaves in it's path and as a person that doesnt even use credit cards and atm cards because I dont like my data mined and tracked.. Ill show an id any day if it will help get this shit under control.

[niyad]

20. that sort of thinking is exactly why we currently have the theo-fascist

thugs running the police state that used to be the USA. sorry, I don't buy it for one minute.
geez, they aren't even using the mazola, and yet the little sheeples are just lined up, obedient and compliant.

[BeTheChange]

40. You are totally right..

it is absolutely all about showing your id for something that should be prescription only any fucking way.

Give me the ky because baby, I just stay lubed for the government to fuck me up the ass by regulating my fucking cold and cough medication.

Its my freaking inalienable right to get as much pseudoephidrine as I want whenever I freaking want it!

[High Plains]

21. If you think the restrictions on Sudafed etc are going to stop meth

you need to rethink. Home-cooked meth using psuedoephedrine probably accounts for only about 20% of total meth consumption. Much of the rest comes from real labs in Mexico. I like to refer to this law as "The Mexican Meth Market Share Enhancement Act."

But, hey, as long as you don't mind giving up your freedoms inch by inch to fight chimeras (meth, terrorists, Mexicans)...

[BeTheChange]

41. Well here in rural washington,

it is helping. How much help it will do in the long run, I have no idea but I sure as hell know that it doesnt come as a little side with pot nowadays and that is definate progress. Im not getting my knickers in a wad because they want to know if I buy cold medication.

Ill let the rest of you freak out about that.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

27. It will cut down on the local mini-labs, however

get your welcome sign out for the Mexican cartels. Since this law took effect here in Oregon, the Meth is brought up from the border, and it's quality has skyrocketed.

There is still only one bed available for every five that need rehab.

[BeTheChange]

43. It's quality has skyrocketed..

but what has it done to it's quantity? Dont wanna admit that its went down, right? What about it's price? Its a bit more expensive to be a meth addict nowadays, huh?

Of course they need to go after the labs in Mexico, that is a given..

But last time I checked, we didnt make the rules in Mexico.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

45. supply NOT down. Quality UP. Priced the SAME.

The labs were only 20% of the supply before. #'s of kids going into foster care going up still. Has had no effect on the # of addicts, sorry.

The fact that it's not being cooked next door, or in a van parked on some random street is a good thing.

[politicat]

28. It will make it worse, not better.

Because now instead of just smuggling meth across the borders, there's going to be pseudo/ephedrine smuggling. As long as people are stupid, desperate, and hurting enough to use meth, it will be made. It will just cause more crime as high-dose pills are smuggled in. 97% of the drugs that come into this country aren't caught. This will just be another one income stream for gangs and criminals.

My allergy meds are chemically terrible for meth production (meth production requires the hydrogenation of the hydroxyl group on the molecule, and pseudoephedrine SULPHATE is worthless for that chemical reaction.) My allergies are seasonal, but my husband's aren't, and his best defense is loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulphate (Claritin D). He's been on everything from benedryl to fexofenadine (Allegra) and he was on a Claritin scrip when they took it OTC. We were forced to go from a scrip (that cost us $10 a month) to OTC, which isn't covered by our insurance and is 4 times more expensive.

I can't even buy his meds, most months, because I have to buy my own - and it's a massive inconvenience because I do the shopping. I cannot buy more than 7.5 grams of a drug that can't be used as for meth in any month. (I can buy 31 doses of 240 mg.) I have no idea what parents with two kids who have allergies are going to do -- because you can't buy it unless you're 18, and when it's a maintenance med, you have to take it every day.

It's a ridiculous law. It's not going to stop anyone - it will just make people steal, smuggle and rob. Would have been much better to make it scrip only.

[DELUSIONAL]

29. If you think persecution of ill people eliminate meth production

you are a fool.

What is happening is that law abiding people are being discriminated against and put on a "list" -- yet another list.

This "list" can be turned over to the insurance companies -- and premiums will probably increase by 100% or more -- or people will be dropped.

[BeTheChange]

39. persecution of ill people?

Are you serious?


It should be made into a perscription if this whole showing your id thing is just too much for everyone.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SPKrazy]

48. This Hasn't Slowed Meth Consumption Anywhere!

It's been in effect in many states and consumption is higher than ever!

Why? CHEAP crystal meth from Mexico!

It has cut down on the number of illegal labs busted in the states where they have laws, but there is an increase in consumption!

Now I don't want a meth lab in my neighborhood, but I doubt that anyone is going to pay for Claritin D or Aleve Sinus to manufacture Meth.

What they want and need is quantity.

But why bother, when you can buy quantity cheap from Mexico and sell it and make as much money without risking blowing your ass to the moon, or poisoning yourself with toxic chemicals?

[Mythsaje]

3. Expect a flood of posts explaining how bad meth is...

in case we didn't already know.

[High Plains]

22. Meth is bad, m'kay?

but the stupid drug war is worse.

[Mythsaje]

26. No argument there...

I think the drug war has made it damn near irresistable to make and sell such a high profit item. For those without scruples or any semblance of human decency, that is.

Plenty of those types around. They're running the place right now, after all.

[Squatch]

4. I think it varies state by state.

I can still buy that stuff without going to a pharmacist or relinquishing my private data here in SE VA

[Missy M]

10. According to the person in the pharmacy at Walmart....

it is coming and everyone selling it will have to take that info. Walmart decided to implement it immediately. The others I'm sure have some to get everything in place to do it.

[alarimer]

47. I bet walmart will use that info for other purposes

marketing, etc.

I hate these laws. I have decide to do without Claritin-D and instead use the other stuff, which doesn't do as much but I refuse to go on some kind of "potential criminal list" just to buy OTC medicine. And not be able to get enough of it to last a month.

[High Plains]

23. The new version of the Patriot Act makes it federal law.

Not sure when it goes into effect, but soon, if not already.

[DrGonzoLives]

5. Until I can get my insulin syringes without a prescription

I find it hard to sympathize with people who are affected by this. I need that stuff to live, not just get rid of a sinus headache.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Perhaps the solution is to require prescriptions for pseudoephrine

It's only fair if diabetics need one for syringes.

[Missy M]

15. I agree with you regarding the insulin syringes......

but I had a nasty head cold and Aleve Cold & Sinus really helped. I would not want to have to go to a doctor for a cold because it is not necessary.

[High Plains]

25. That's an odd position to take.

"I get screwed, so screw you, too."

Where do you live that you need a 'scrip for a needle? I thought most states had gotten past that long ago.

[DrGonzoLives]

46. Think again

Syringes are classified as drug paraphenelia, thus a controlled substance.

And my point is that I need insulin to live, yet I can't even get the syringes to inject it if I don't have a doctor. Showing a license to get cold medicine is nothing.

[shaniqua6392]

9. It is because they contain

pseudophedrine which is used to make meth. But, I do not think they make meth out of the medications that contain tylenol, advil, or any other things mixed in. They have been doing this here in SE Michigan for about 1 1/2 years already. The stores around here just keep the straight sudafed, etc. in the pharmacy, but the medications that are mixed with tylenol and other stuff are still out on the shelves.

[Missy M]

12. The stores around here had the Aleve in the pharmacy and..

they did not have to take your drivers license, but they soon will.

[Serial Mom]

11. They are legislating morality...

over the past few years, going after Tommy Chong for selling bongs, and medical marijuana clinics;

yesterday a nationwidw sex sting (I am not saying they shouldn't arrest molesters, etc.), but to spend so much time/effort nationwide?

today keeping lists of people buying drugs at a Walmart - next sting?

and what tomorrow? against those who dissent?


They should go after corrupt politicians, corporations and officers that steal from the public, use the time/effort to rebuild New Orleans, assist the poor who can heat their homes or buy gasoline for their cars to get to work and yes, I am more of a socialist, but in comparison to this mis-administration, I would accept a socialist government.

[TreasonousBastard]

13. And is there any evidence that this...

has slowed meth production in the slightest?

[fizzgig]

17. i doubt it

most of the meth distributed in my area comes up from mexico.

besides, i know of at least a few ways meth can be made without pseudoephrine

[triguy46]

31. Yes, it has in Oklahoma...

We were the first to enact this law. There has been a significant decrease in busted meth labs. Meth is still a prob, but its being cooked elsewhere.

[High Plains]

37. States that have already instituted similar laws report a decrease

in meth lab busts, but no decrease in use.

Fewer meth labs is a good thing--less pollution, fewer explosions, less exposure to nasty chemicals.

But now users get a purer, more expensive meth...

[RoyGBiv]

44. Yes

[texastoast]

14. Mixed emotions

I find it ludicrous that a LAW would require this for pseudoephedrine products when it is not mandated for EVERY FREAKING PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS DEXTROMETHORPHAN.

Dextromethorphan is in about 140 cold medications for cough control, and my doctor described it as "morphine in boxcars" (referring to the chemical structure, he said).

Kids get this stuff and have died from it. Pot is outlawed, but kids get Triple C (Coricidan Cough & Cold--the preferred abused form), do a "flat" of it (about eight tablets), and have an LSD-type high for three days.

The drug war is just not working.

[robinlynne]

18. This is a good thing. It is to stop methamphetamine.

This si a good law. If you watch the Now special on meth amphetamine, there is only one way to stop it. That is holding back the ingredients. Good people have tried ot do it for years, but the pharmaceutical industry lobby always blocks it. this is a great thing!

[Missy M]

19. I don't believe this will stop it. Why should I have to ....

give my drivers license over and have it go into a computer because I have a miserable cold and the Aleve really helps. I'm sure the criminals will find ways to get around this. I am not a criminal and do not like to be treated as one.

[texastoast]

32. Meth folks have been making meth a long time before using pseudoephedrine

They will just go back to the more basic chemicals that they used long before they figured out pseudo-e made it a little easier for them. It will be cheaper to produce as well.

[dipsydoodle]

24. Back in the sixtiesj

nose inhalers in the UK had ephedrine in them. My pals used to crack them open and stick them in a cup of tea - I think it kept them awake at late night jazz clubs we went to. I just considered them to be mildly deranged. I've always thought that if you've got it together inside your own head then your probably a happy bunny like me and you don't need props.

[triguy46]

30. Anything with pseudoephedrine is being controlled...

but isn't alleve an anti inflammatory?

[Missy M]

33. Yes, Aleve Cold & Sinus is an anti-inflammatory and a...

decongestant. It is the only thing I can take for a cold that doesn't give me the jitters.

[SiouxJ]

34. The drug companies have been fighting this type of legislation

tooth and nail. They know that something ridiculous, like 75% of their cold medicine sales go to making Meth, so they are making a ton of money on it and they don't want to lose those sales.

PBS had a very revealing documentary on this topic. Here's an excerpt from their website:

Ever since the federal government first tried getting DEA regulations in the mid-80s to deal with the meth problem, pharmaceutical companies have known that these products could be misused and turned into meth.

And Warner-Lambert Co., now owned by Pfizer, holds the patent to another possible solution: a "mirror image" form of pseudoephedrine that can't be turned into methamphetamine. But product development hasn't been pursued because getting FDA approval would be a long, very expensive road. (See interview with Pfizer's Steven Robins). Over the years, Congress has not seriously debated financing research into a cold remedy that can't be turned into meth, or making it easier for Pfizer to get federal approval for its "mirror image" drug.

Critics of the pharmaceutical companies say their long opposition to regulating ephedrine and pseudoephedrine at the wholesale and retail level so that it can't be diverted to the meth trade has been a key factor in the growth of meth abuse that now affects 1.4 million Americans.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/faqs/

on edit, sorry, posted in the wrong spot and too lazy to fix it ;-) .

[triguy46]

35. All the more reason to support the legislation...

If drug companies are against it, then I'm for it.

[SiouxJ]

36. my thoughts exactly

I used to be against it because on occasion I buy Actifed for my allergies and now, where I live, you have to fill our a form to get it. After seeing that report, I'm now for the legislation. You can watch it on that site btw.

[pdxmom]

38. Here in Oregon, starting on July 1, these drugs are going back

to requiring a prescription. We've had to get them from the pharmacist and show ID for quite a while here.

I decided a long time ago to switch to something that didn't work quite as well, but didn't have the pseudoephedrine in it. A doctor co-pay, plus time off to get to the doctor isn't worth it.

[Neil Lisst]

42. I had that happen at a store recently. I told them HELL NO!

As I told them, does anyone really believe a person buying ONE package is cooking meth?!

I told them HELL NO, I don't show my license and register to buy friggin cold medicine.

The War Against Toothless Rednecks

[SPKrazy]

49. Did They Sell It?

I'd like to know

because I feel the same way but have shown my license

felt like I'd done something wrong the way they treated me.

Pharmacist asked me "when was the last time you bought Claritin D?" in a thick foreign accent.

I about told him to shove it up his ass.

I instead told him that I have no idea, I didn't keep records of when I might have bought any Claritin D.

Amazing world we live in.

Meth use and quantity/quality up, getting it from Mexico now.

Meth labs out of business. I suspect the market would have made that correction without the law since it is cheaper and safer to buy it from Mexico.

[RobbinsdaleDem]

50. Minnesota Target stores, too.

I've had to show my driver's license, and the clerk has taken all the information from the license, for months now to buy Sudafed. The medicine is kept behind the counter and one has to ask for it. There is a limit of two boxes at the Target pharmacy I go to.

[RedSpartan]

52. My 13 month old daughter has a cold

(and is getting all four 12 month molars in), and I had to give my license and sign a register to buy Infant Tylenol Cold Drops at CVS in NJ.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

53. Remember the guy who shot the 12 nails into his head?

That's how crazy Meth makes people. It won't do too much for current addicts, but if it could drive up prices and lower production enough to keep some folks for trying it, my congested self can deal with it.

[Ciggies and coffee]

54. The drug industry certainly has enough clout to have stopped this

Unless they were the ones behind it in the first place. More money in their new drugs than a cheap generic otc.

I believe the anti-ephedra campaign of a couple years ago was the first installment, as it is helpful for the same sinus problems, and had energetic properties that were a threat to the pill companies' weight loss and antidepressant drugs.

Funny we are told that a "meth crisis" exists now, when the products used to make it are presumably much harder to get, and less pure, than decades ago.

Ironic that the media never mentions Desoxyn brand methamphetamine, produced by the pharmaceutical industry.

[peacebaby3]

55. I work in the CJ system with all types of drug addicts and meth has become

a huge problem, but this will do very little in the long run to stop people from making and using meth. As some have already stated it will come from Mexico and I've already had a couple of users talking about instead of going in to buy it now they will just have to go in and rob the place to get it if that is a last resort so not only are people that suffer from asthma and chronic sinus infections going to be treated like criminals, but we are going to have meth addicts holding Walgreen's pharmacy up at gunpoint for Sudafed, etc. This was definitely a brilliant idea! :sarcasm:

Instead of all the expense & effort to try to enforce this law, maybe we should be pumping money into the system to treat these addicts and prevent new addicts with education.

Don't worry, the people who make it and deal it will figure out soon enough how to get around all of this and it won't make a bit of difference.

On edit: The drug companies would love it if people who use OTCs were forced to buy a prescription! A lot more money in their pocket. Too bad for all of the people who don't have coverage.