<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> New rule intended to limit pseudoephedrine use

November 03, 2009 12:38 pm

— OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is starting new programs intended to limit the illegal use of pseudoephedrine.
Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in making methamphetamine and is found in many over the counter cold medicines.
A birth date is now required along with a full name and a state-issued identification in order to buy drugs containing pseudoephedrine at pharmacies. OBN spokesman Mark Woodward says the bureau is also working with the Department of Public Safety to implement a data-sharing program to reject sales to customers using identification cards not in the state system.
The OBN says meth labs are down by more than 90 percent in recent years — but there is an increase in so-called “shake and bake” or “one-pot” meth labs which use smaller quantities of pseudoephedrine.