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Provinces restrict cold remedy in crystal meth fight: Manitoba, Saskatchewan first in Canada to take such action  

Manitoba and Saskatchewan will fight the rising use of crystal meth by limiting access to cold remedies that are used to make the highly addictive drug. Both provinces will require that 17 different cough and cold remedies that contain only the chemical pseudoephedrine must be sold in pharmacies and be stored behind the counter. As well, consumers will only be able to buy a maximum of 3.6 grams of such products at one time. The products include popular brands such as Benylin, Sudafed, Nondrowsy Contac and Congest Aid.

 "Today we are taking the first step to regulate access to crystal meth precursors in selected cold remedies," Saskatchewan Healthy Living Services Minister Graham Addley said Tuesday. "This is the common position that the four western provinces and three territories -- all of the officials -- have agreed with. At this point, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are moving forward." The two provinces are the first in Canada to take such action. British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario are considering similar restrictions, say government and pharmaceutical industry officials.

 B.C. Solicitor General John Les announced Tuesday the province will monitor the sale of such drugs. If problems are discovered, the products will also be restricted to pharmacies. "Meth labs in B.C. are highly organized commercial operations," Les said in a release. "While it is rare for them to use over-the-counter drugs, we want to be as thorough as possible." Police have seen an increase in the last few years in the use of crystal methamphetamine -- a drug that has swept into Western Canada from California and is now spreading east into Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

 The cheap drug causes liver and kidney damage. Users struggle with violent and paranoid behaviour, depression, irritability and nervousness.  Cold remedies containing the material needed to make the drug are widely sold in pharmacies, grocery and convenience stores -- even gas stations. Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh said the province will spend $6 million on its crystal meth strategy, which will include a public education campaign to warn people about the dangers of the drug. "Meth causes you to lose your teeth, your hair, your complexion, your mind," Mackintosh said. "You become psychotic and can die."

 Gerry Harrington of the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association of Canada said the industry would prefer if governments focused on reducing demand for crystal meth rather than restricting the sale of these products. But at least Manitoba and Saskatchewan are not calling for prescriptions for such drugs, he said. "We can live with it," Harrington said from Ottawa. "At least we do not have a situation where residents cannot get these products in a convenient way. The critical thing is that they will not be cutting off access to all cold products, which was the worry."

 The Yukon government announced Tuesday that all pharmacies in the territory had voluntarily agreed to move cold medications containing crystal meth ingredients from open shelves to behind the counter. B.C. announced in September it will spend $7 million to beef up crystal meth treatment and prevention programs, including a public awareness campaign. Alberta is preparing laws that would allow authorities to seize children from parents who are either reckless addicts or involved in the illegal drug trade. Young drug addicts would also be forced into detox.

 Health Canada has also looked at regulating the sale of crystal meth's chemical ingredients.