Tylenol cold and flu, Sudafed and Advil Allergy sinus are all medicines that used to be found on the shelves at every local supermarket. But as of Sept. 30 of this year, these products were removed from the shelves and are now being sold from behind the pharmacy.
As a result of individuals using these products, and several hundred others like them, to make the drug methamphetamine, the FDA has taken drastic measures to make sure that these drugs are being used for the correct reasons.
According to the FDA Web site, this law is a part of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, which is an addition to the Patriot Act.
The new law cites that any product containing pseudoephedrine is to be sold behind the pharmacy, and can only be purchased during pharmacy hours.
In order to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine, a government issued photo I.D. must be presented at time of purchase and several forms must be filled out before the product can be bought.
"Some retailers have decided to be proactive and have decided to place products containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter in order to deter misuse," stated Tracy Ely via e-mail, a consumer relationship advisor from Tylenol. "However, restrictions vary from state to state."
Local supermarkets around the Buffalo and Amherst area, such as Wegmans and Tops, started voluntarily complying with the new law around mid-August.
According to the FDA Web site, the next phase in halting the creation of methamphetamine is to link store to store computer systems. This will prevent those using the products illegally from hitting up different pharmacies to get what they need.
Meanwhile, companies like Tylenol are going back and reformatting their formulas and producing products that do not contain pseudoephedrine.
"The new Tylenol products contain an ingredient called phenylephrine," Ely said. "It's a little different from pseudoephedrine, you have to take more of it and the effect doesn't last as long, but it's still safe to buy and effective."
No more than 3.6 grams of products containing pseudoephedrine can be purchased in a given day, or more than nine grams in a given month, according to the FDA Web site. If that amount is exceeded, the FDA has the right to start a federal investigation of the purchaser.
Only being able to purchase such a small amount - 3.6 grams equals approximately one package of Tylenol Cold and Flu every two weeks -severely limits the allergy and flu medicines that costumers can choose from. The alternative medicines are not as effective as the original versions.
"Pseudoephedrine is not an illegal drug, but it can be converted into methamphetamine when combined with toxic household products," Ely said. "This conversion is a very dangerous process, which can impact entire communities."
Methamphetamine use has been correlated with domestic violence and child abuse, according to the FDA Web site, which is why it is very important to remove these products that are being used to create harmful substances.
Although many changes have been made to safeguard from the increasing rise of the selling and making of methamphetamines, the FDA is seeking additional precautions, according to their Web site.
"This really is an inconvenience though, because if I ever did get sick and the pharmacy wasn't open I wouldn't be able to get any effective medicine," said Ashley Rose, a junior art major. "I guess the solution to that is to buy it in advance."
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
