15
Oct
Banning “P”
No, not methamphetamine. That’s already banned. John Key is proposing to reclassify pseudoephedrine to a class B2 drug. This puts it into the same class as Ritalin. In order for me to prescribe pseudoephedrine, I would have to now fill out the same laborious forms as one does for morphine and Ritalin. Considering that pseudoephedrine is a “comfort drug” (drug that alleviates only minor symptoms), no doctor is going to be bothered to prescribe it. Essentially therefore, this is a ban.
A ban on a flu remedy.
Can a total ban on smoking and alcohol be next on Granny John’s list? After all, they kill far more people and destroy far more lives each year than methamphetamine.
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Oct 15 09 11:20 am
So, it keeps getting better. If we managed to persuade our GP to write a script for pseudo, what is the limit they can prescribe? I only need the stuff about 2-3 times a year, but it does makes a huge difference. I was hoping a one off doctors visit would give me 3 packets worth – usually enough to see me through winter, and perhaps minimise the cost. But it looks like not at all…..
BTW – excellent points on alcohol and smoking
No doctor will be able to give you an extra supply as it is technically illegal. Some doctors might even report you to the police as a potential “P” manufacturer, if you request extra!
Oct 15 09 11:59 am
John Key’s plan is a reality suppressant.
Oct 15 09 2:30 pm
John Key has definately left this planet and is now living? Where exactly.
Oct 16 09 8:02 pm
MacDoctor, I live in Papakura. I only need the pseudoephedrine based medication occasionally. When I do I am asked for my driver’s licence and that goes on a central database. I have heard in other areas chemist do not insist on ID. Do you know if this is the case?
If so, it would make more sense to me to make the system compulsory for all chemist before effectively banning a drug that brings a lot of relieve to many people and evaluate how effective this measure is stopping the manufacturing of P by this means.
Oct 16 09 9:00 pm
Chuck: The pharmacists wanted a database system called STOP which would have automatically recorded pseudoephedrine sales and matched them – immediately spotting the “shoppers”. The only downside to the system was cost (I heard $30-50 million but that seemed a bit excessive to me).
What Key has done is ignore the advice of his science advisor, who wanted to make pseudoephedrine prescription only and gone for reclassification, essentially banning the drug.
Oct 17 09 11:38 am
MacDoctor, pharmacist’s idea might have been best but costly. Would not an expansion of the system that some chemists have been operating to include all chemists have been almost as effective? How many people will be prepared to show ID to a number of chemists in a short period of time if they know they would be reported to the police in the not too distant future.
I wonder if the Nats have the numbers. Labour and ACT have not given support as far as I know.
The current pharmacist ID list is very ad-hoc and relies on the police reviewing the lists for recurrent names, a hit and miss procedure at the best of times. The database would have made this much easier and more efficient.