Lifestyle

TOPICS:

8/3/05

Previous

PAGE: 

1 ... 

300 | 301 | 302

 ... 944

Next

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2

Next

jake_lex

jake_lex

Lexington, KY
February 2003

AUG 01, 2005 03:02 AM

One of the main ingredients in methamphetamine is readily available at any store: pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient of many cold and allergy pills. In many areas of the country, production of meth has become a plague, leading to massive increases of violence, and dangerous situations as police have to deal with toxic and highly flammable meth labs, often set up in houses by people who really shouldn't be dealing with such heavy-duty chemicals. As a reaction to this, the Oregon state legislature has passed a law that would require drugs containing pseudoephedrine to be sold by prescription only. Many states have already passed laws that put cold medicines behind the counter and impose limits on how much can be purchased in a certain period of time, but Oregon's law goes much further, and it has its detractors.



The legislation would require prescriptions by mid-2006 for medicines containing pseudoephedrine and two similar substances, which are used in such popular medicines as Sudafed, Claritin and Theraflu.

The bill was endorsed despite complaints that it would unfairly burden law-abiding citizens who cannot afford doctor visits.

"Should we pass this legislation today, we are not going to be happy with ourselves down the road," Democratic Sen. Vicki Walker said.

But supporters called it a necessary step to curb methamphetamine production and safeguard children who are exposed to toxic chemicals in homes used as meth labs.

"It's a no-brainer," said Republican Sen. Jeff Kruse. "If we can save one meth baby, it will be worth it."



To me, the failure of the law is that it's a harsh burden on those who want to get these drugs legally, but it probably won't stop anyone who really wants to make meth. They'll just go to other states to get it. I can accept laws that do put pseudoephedrine behind the counter so that you have to ask a pharmacist to get it for you, but making me go to my doctor to get a prescription for some Sudafed seems ridiculous.

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake. This might be going too far, but something needs to be done.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 01, 2005 04:49 AM

You mean that meth makers are going to have to break the law now? Wait, weren't they doing that all along?




[Edited on Aug 01, 2005 by dem_z]

Stormy

Stormy

SUICIDEGIRL

Oregon, USA

AUG 01, 2005 04:57 AM

i think this is so fucking ridiculous.meth is a huge problem here, but so is getting health insurance. you cant get coldmedicine now without a prescription and iam not paying money for a doctor visit just so i can get some sinus relief. blackeyed

and totally what dem_z said. why the hell would this law stop them? they were oh so lawful before... blah

s5

s5

STAFF

San Francisco, CA

AUG 01, 2005 05:27 AM

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.

MistressMissy

mistressmissy

Grand Rapids, MI
March 2003

AUG 01, 2005 05:45 AM

s5 said:

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.



so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?

FrankMask

FrankMask

Saint Paul, MN
June 2003

AUG 01, 2005 10:17 AM

MistressMissy said:

s5 said:

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.



so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?



Because people aren't nearly as strong as they're made out to be, and sometimes good people do stupid things and need help.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

AUG 01, 2005 10:31 AM

On the one hand, here in MN the Claritin I use has become ridiculously difficult to get. It's behind the counter; to get it I need to give my name, address, driver's license number, and sign for it. We are also limited to 6 mg a month, which works out to be 20 capsules. However, there are usually 30 or 31 days in a month. So I can't get a months' supply without having an accomplice to buy some for me. If it were a prescription drug again I could just go to the doctor, get a prescription, and have it filled at the pharmacy with no problems.

On the other hand, going to the doctor and getting the prescription isn't that easy for many people, so a law like this would prevent people without access to a doctor from obtaining the drug for legitimate purposes.

So, basically, the cookers are making things difficult for everyone.

[Edited on Aug 01, 2005 by Sick]

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

AUG 01, 2005 10:37 AM

Time to start my Sudafed smuggling business, I guess. I'll make a fortune as a Drixoral runner!

Seriously, were I an Oregonian, I would be fucking livid.

Vestril

Vestril

Coronado, CA
February 2003

AUG 01, 2005 10:42 AM

It kind of struck me as a weird state when I passed though. This just confirms it for me.

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

AUG 01, 2005 10:47 AM

Sick said:
On the one hand, here in MN the Claritin I use has become ridiculously difficult to get. It's behind the counter; to get it I need to give my name, address, driver's license number, and sign for it. We are also limited to 6 mg a month, which works out to be 20 capsules. However, there are usually 30 or 31 days in a month. So I can't get a months' supply without having an accomplice to buy some for me. If it were a prescription drug again I could just go to the doctor, get a prescription, and have it filled at the pharmacy with no problems.

On the other hand, going to the doctor and getting the prescription isn't that easy for many people, so a law like this would prevent people without access to a doctor from obtaining the drug for legitimate purposes.

So, basically, the cookers are making things difficult for everyone.

[Edited on Aug 01, 2005 by Sick]



Claritin is behind the counter? Seriously?
I'm pretty sure I could walk to the drug store and grab a case if I wanted to...


dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 01, 2005 10:56 AM

MistressMissy said:

s5 said:

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.



so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?


Why not spend the money that's going to go on enforcing a 'script-for-cold-remedy law on treatment for meth addicts?

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

AUG 01, 2005 11:03 AM

MistressMissy said:

so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?



Probably because meth production and meth addicts are dangerous to more than just themselves.

There was a meth lab not far from where I used to live. The police raided it and it said on the news that if it had gone up (which is far from unheard of) it could have taken out a two block radius.

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

AUG 01, 2005 01:22 PM

This one of the dumber things I've heard lately. . .
I'm sure that the rise in price of meth that is going to come of this isn't going to increase crime rates, instead of lower them, between pharmacies getting ripped off for sudafed, and general robbery for the addicts to get more money for the now more expensive meth. Hooray.

[Edited on Aug 01, 2005 by MrStitches]

Cigarette

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH
April 2004

AUG 01, 2005 01:31 PM

MistressMissy said:

s5 said:

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.



so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?


Missy, I'm surprised at you. That's like saying, "Let's repeal the drunk driving laws to kill off all of the people who're stupid enough to drink and drive."

RandomNerd

RandomNerd

I'm lost
January 2005

AUG 01, 2005 01:49 PM

Cigarette said:

MistressMissy said:

s5 said:

But if we're going to wage war on any drug, meth seems like a good one. This drug is an utter destroyer of life, and leaves only misery in its wake.



all the more reason to not wage war on meth. the more harmful a drug, the more ridiculous and destructive crap the government will do to keep it under "control". and here we see it in action.



so why not let the drug kill off all the people stupid enough to use it?


Missy, I'm surprised at you. That's like saying, "Let's repeal the drunk driving laws to kill off all of the people who're stupid enough to drink and drive."



I figured Missy was being sarcastic, and does agree that drug abuse is too important to not do something about it.

Which is true. Something must be done, but the approach being used is extremely counter-productive.

_Sarah_

_Sarah_

Kalamazoo, MI
January 2003

AUG 01, 2005 10:27 PM

FreakPirate said:
Claritin is behind the counter? Seriously?
I'm pretty sure I could walk to the drug store and grab a case if I wanted to...



Claritin became a non-prescription drug in the U.S. only recently. Other allergy medicine, like Allegra, is still prescription-only. That's why I used to cross the border to Windsor so often. wink

dpk

dpk

Seattle, WA
November 2004

AUG 01, 2005 10:31 PM

This is certainly the wrong approach for the government to take, but I wonder what alternative they have. They want to take action, so they can tell the scared voters that they're "doing something" about the problem. What action can they take to actually curb meth production?

The only thing that could would be to reduce demand, but is that something a state government (or any government) can possibly accomplish? I'm thinking "no".

Psamtik

Psamtik

Portland, OR
May 2004

AUG 01, 2005 10:52 PM

Stormy said:
i think this is so fucking ridiculous.meth is a huge problem here, but so is getting health insurance. you cant get coldmedicine now without a prescription and iam not paying money for a doctor visit just so i can get some sinus relief. blackeyed

and totally what dem_z said. why the hell would this law stop them? they were oh so lawful before... blah



Hey Stormy, you should go to meth dealers for them now and then tell legislators how much the law backfired.

desidia

desidia

Reunion
September 2002

AUG 01, 2005 10:53 PM

yeah. I've been following this one for a while.

I don't suppose meth cures cold symptoms does it?

aktrekker

aktrekker

Spokane, WA
December 2004

AUG 01, 2005 11:11 PM

Guess I'm the first to agree with this.
I just spent 3 years working at a convenience store in a bad neighborhood. I've seen what meth does to people. How it makes them irritable and even violent. How it destroys their body. Most of the people look like the walking dead. Their brains are so fried that they usually don't know where or even who they are.
This may not solve the problem, but at least it's a step in that direction. Just because we don't have a total solution, should we do nothing?

swingkitten

swingkitten

Portland, OR
OLD SKOOL

AUG 01, 2005 11:29 PM

This is so goddamned aggravating.

They will drive ten minutes to get to Vancouver, WA, and buy their shit there.
So will all the people who legitimately use sinus aids and stuff like that.

All this is gonna do is waste everyone's gas money.

!

It's the oil companies! They're behind this!

Sunheart

sunheart

Salem, OR
April 2005

AUG 02, 2005 12:02 AM

Well I live in Salem Oregon supposedly the Meth capitol of the world. I know what the Fucking problem is and it certainly isnt allergy Meds.

Every SINGLE time people try to start something entertaining the city FLATTENS IT.

There is NO fun allowed in Salem. PERIOD! In fact if you live here and your not a Parent and not Elderly you might as well be a Jew in 1940s Germany!

mad Yes yes I am livid. I dont have allergys but guess what? Not only is Salem the Meth capitol but its also the states ALLERGY capitol. Do you know what they do in the country side around this hole? FARM GRASS SEED!

Also Unemploment is Rampent around here. Hardly anyone can afford to go to the doctor to get their meds.


[Edited on Aug 02, 2005 12:05AM]

dire_romantic

dire_romantic

Edmonton, AB
May 2004

AUG 02, 2005 12:29 AM

Meth has stretched so far across North America, it's frightening. Even though it's a relatively cheap drug (comparing it to coke and whatnot), oilfield workers up here seem to be making it their drug of choice. I've personally seen healthy, fit, and well-off rig-hands go broke and sickly frail after only a few months of being on it. It's even in my family - my aunt and her husband went through an intervention for her son to get him out of the city he was living in and get him off meth.

amazimu

amazimu

San Rafael, CA
June 2005

AUG 02, 2005 01:45 AM

what are the alternatives to using the pseudoephedrine in cold medicine? Are they difficult or expensive enough to discourage meth production?

Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn

SUICIDEGIRL

Indiana, USA

AUG 02, 2005 01:48 AM

Is it strange that everytime I see the word Oregon all I can think about is Oregon Trail and how much I want to play it?

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2

Next