N.C. cold medicine law stifles meth labs, doesn’t abate worry
Monday, July 31st, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
The Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. | A new law that restricts the sale of certain cold medicines is getting credit for a decrease in methamphetamine labs across North Carolina, but it’s not doing much to stifle law enforcement concerns about the drug.
One law alone won’t solve the problem, they say - officials must still educate the public about the drug’s dangers, help addicts and fight traffickers.
The law, which took effect in January, limits the sale of drugs that contain pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that is a primary ingredient of methamphetamine.
The State Bureau of Investigation counted 139 seizures of meth labs from January to June of this year, compared to 207 during the same period last year.
A number of laws has helped, such as mandatory prison time for meth manufacturers and punishments for those who make the drug around children, but Attorney General Roy Cooper said the cold drug law deserves major credit.
"It makes sense that if you keep the main ingredient out of the hands of criminals, you’ll have fewer of these dangerous labs," Cooper said.
Still, local law enforcement agencies worry about the spread of the drug. (more…)
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