The state pharmacy board has enacted new restrictions that will move many non-prescription cold medications behind the counter in an effort to curb methamphetamine production in Oregon.
The restrictions limit sales of products, such as Sudafed, that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine. The drug can be used to manufacture methamphetamines, according to a press release from Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office.
Starting Nov. 15, only licensed pharmacies will be able to sell products that contain pseudoephedrine as the only active ingredient. Retail stores can still sell pseudoephedrine products with a combination of active ingredients, but they must be sold from a secure counter and those purchasing them must show photo identification.
Kim Shore, who coordinates food service for the Union Market at the EMU, said she’s not yet sure how the restrictions will affect the store.
“As far as the new pseudoephedrine restrictions are concerned, we don’t know at this point to what extent they’re going to affect our sales at the store,” Shore said. “But we will most definitely strive to comply with the temporary regulation by the Nov. 15 deadline.”
Although the University Bookstore sells a variety of cold medications, it offers only a few that contain pseudoephedrine.
“We don’t sell very many of those products,” General Manager Jim Williams said. “But we have realized we need to put them in a more secure location.” He said cold medications will likely be available at the store’s front register nearest to sportswear and electronics.
The University Health Center pharmacy will not be strongly affected by the new regulations, which the pharmacy basically followed before they even existed, manager Julie Dewsnup said.
“At the pharmacy here, it has always been behind the counter,” she said. “We’ve always been watching quantity because it’s a drug with potential for abuse.”
Kulongoski requested the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to implement the emergency 180-day rule and will work with legislators during their next session to make the rule permanent.
“I want all retailers who currently sell pseudoephedrine products to be able to continue to sell those products, but in a secured fashion that prevents would-be meth cooks from endangering Oregon’s children,” the governor said in the press release.

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