Flu tablets caught in drug fight

[boulder]

PHARMACISTS will have the right to refuse Sudafed to customers who don't provide ID in a bid to stem the illegal amphetamine trade.

 

A new law to start on Wednesday will require people buying Sudafed and

 

brands of decongestants containing pseudoephedrine to provide a name and address.

 

Pharmacists will record the date, brand name and number of packets bought. They will also be allowed to refuse the medication to any customer who does not hand over proof of identity.

 

The changes are part of new federal regulations defining the way medications containing pseudoephedrine are supplied.

 

Some nasal decongestants containing pseudoephedrine also will

require customers to supply their details.

 

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland branch acting president Tim Logan said many pharmacists already requested identification. But some were not confident in asking questions because they were afraid of the way customers would react.

 

"Now it is required I guess it is a bit of a relief for pharmacists that they are not overstepping their responsibilities," Mr Logan said.

 

He said pharmacists were confronted weekly by customers they believed were "mules" for amphetamine cooks who used the medicine as a basis for their drugs.

 

"Mules" often said they had to "stack up" the medicine because they suffered from frequent sinus problems.

 

State drug investigation group detective John Hartwell said he expected the legislation to have a significant impact.

 

"The record of pseudo-ephedrine will enable us to monitor the use of the drug and track any unusual sales which may be connected to the illicit industry," he said.

 

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Ian Dearden said the legislation was an invasion of privacy.

 

"It's absolutely overkill if we are talking about a member of the public going in to buy a single box of Sudafed," Mr Dearden said. "If people were buying a carton at a time then yes, it is a legitimate response.

 

"It's a classic sledgehammer to crack open a nut type response."

 

Health Minister Wendy Edmond said that some people could see it as an invasion of privacy, most people "would see it as a commonsense approach to combat the drug trade".

 

"It is a precautionary measure to protect the wider community from illicit drug manufacture," she said.

 

 

 

The Courier-Mail

[Guest Babybear]

Its been ages when u have tryed to buy sutafed in qld , think atleast for last 6 months where u need id to get the stuff, they have know for long time that ppl have been doin it , When u give them your id you go into a computer data base an they keep an eye on the amout of time you get it , I never buy it i have no use Casue i dont suffer sinus

I know of a guy an his mates go out in forse with there id an go to a hep diff pharmasys , haha silly guys dont relaise no matter how many dif ones they go to they all goin to get on record

One has be caught out an dont buy them no more i dont think. I think ppl that do chemicals are kinda senceless i ll stick to natural stuff

 

Oh btw i have found that no mater what u get most med you get over counter u need id , if it your medicare or health care card you almost need some sort of id now day.

Edited December 28, 2002 by Babybear