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A local doctor has taken his fight against meth to the Wellington City Council.
Dr. Larry Anderson presented a bill that would make pseudoephedrine — a common ingredient in methampethamine production and found in over-the-counter medications — prescription only during this year’s legislative session in Topeka.
After being presented not only on the House floor, but the Senate floor, the bill didn’t pass. Anderson says the play in politics has delayed the idea only temporarily and the bill will be heard again next year.
Anderson says Wellington shouldn’t wait to start protecting its citizens from the dangers of meth.
“This is an ordinance that when it’s passed would absolutely will improve the health and public safety of Wellington citizens and the citizens in the surrounding communities while at the same time save thousands and thousands of tax payer dollars,” said Anderson.
The city ordinance would make the purchase of any over-the-counter medication containing pseudoephedrine illegal without a prescription from a doctor.
A bill passed by Congress in 2006 moved products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter, available without a prescription, but Anderson says it’s not doing anything to curb illegal use.
“I see every week, the health problems and the family devastation of methamphetamine. I’ve been a big brother for 11 years...and what these kids have to go through is a shame. It’s a travesty and we can stop it. You guys can stop it,” said Anderson.
Statewide laws in Oregon have been passed with results to show prescription-only laws work, Anderson said. Other communities in Missouri and Mississippi have passed similar legislation.
Parsons, Kan., has passed a city ordinance banning pseudoephedrine without a prescription and Chanute is looking into adopting it as well. Anderson says Wellington has a chance to be a leader in the fight against meth.
E-tracking passed in some states hasn’t worked and the costs for pharmacies keeps going up, Anderson said.
“There are only two reasons for you to not jump on this ordinance. Either you think E-tracking works, which it doesn’t or number two, you don’t like more rules,” said Anderson.
Council member Paula Mortimer wondered if a prescription-only stance in Wellington would work if other surrounding communities didn’t follow suite.
“The kind of insurance that I have, I only have five doctors visits a year so one of those doctor’s visits, I’m going to have to get a prescription so then I only have four....then it’s going to cost me a $25 co-pay so instead of doing that here, the next time I’m in Wichita, I’m going to to Sam’s Club or Wal-mart and choose not to spend my money here in town and that’s what I’ve been hearing from people calling me on this,” said Mortimer.
Anderson knows it will be a burden for legitimate users of pseudoephedrine.
“I feel saddened for the legitimate patient that needs medicine, but I call out antibiotics and Loritab for a toothache on a Friday night. I would call out pseudoephedrine for you if I knew you. I think most doctors in this community will take care of you 24-7,” said Anderson.
Those without insurance are also a concern.
“Oregon Medicad had to pay an extra $8,000 — that’s enough money to clean up two labs,” said Anderson.
Anderson says pharmaceutical companies say 15 million people use pseudoephedrine products — only 5 percent of the American population.
“So for those 5 percent who have the inconvenience of having to call their doctor, the other 95 percent don’t have to worry about the meth lab across the street,” said Anderson.
Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) and Sen. Steve Abrams were on hand to offer their support towards the ordinance as well.
“I just wanted to come and support Dr. Anderson. I wish you would think really hard about this. We talked about this at Rotary today about people’s rights...should be punished the people who have a cold for the criminals? All that’s involved in this, but when you get down to it and think about the families and the people that are dying and dragging our society down...I think you’ll agree with Dr. Anderson,” said Wetta.
Abrams said though he was initially against the idea, it was a matter of dollars and cents for him.
“I thought long and hard about this...and it’s going to cost us no matter what happens because of the immense amount of damage that is done to families,” said Abrams.
Using meth just one time can cause addiction, he said, and the costs to help just one person are extravagant, let alone the cost for an epidemic.
“I think this is the least expensive method to try and solve this problem, but in the terms of families and actual dollars it takes to resolve the problem,” Abrams said.
A local doctor has taken his fight against meth to the Wellington City Council.
Dr. Larry Anderson presented a bill that would make pseudoephedrine — a common ingredient in methampethamine production and found in over-the-counter medications — prescription only during this year’s legislative session in Topeka.
After being presented not only on the House floor, but the Senate floor, the bill didn’t pass. Anderson says the play in politics has delayed the idea only temporarily and the bill will be heard again next year.
Anderson says Wellington shouldn’t wait to start protecting its citizens from the dangers of meth.
“This is an ordinance that when it’s passed would absolutely will improve the health and public safety of Wellington citizens and the citizens in the surrounding communities while at the same time save thousands and thousands of tax payer dollars,” said Anderson.
The city ordinance would make the purchase of any over-the-counter medication containing pseudoephedrine illegal without a prescription from a doctor.
A bill passed by Congress in 2006 moved products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter, available without a prescription, but Anderson says it’s not doing anything to curb illegal use.
“I see every week, the health problems and the family devastation of methamphetamine. I’ve been a big brother for 11 years...and what these kids have to go through is a shame. It’s a travesty and we can stop it. You guys can stop it,” said Anderson.
Statewide laws in Oregon have been passed with results to show prescription-only laws work, Anderson said. Other communities in Missouri and Mississippi have passed similar legislation.
Parsons, Kan., has passed a city ordinance banning pseudoephedrine without a prescription and Chanute is looking into adopting it as well. Anderson says Wellington has a chance to be a leader in the fight against meth.
E-tracking passed in some states hasn’t worked and the costs for pharmacies keeps going up, Anderson said.
“There are only two reasons for you to not jump on this ordinance. Either you think E-tracking works, which it doesn’t or number two, you don’t like more rules,” said Anderson.
Council member Paula Mortimer wondered if a prescription-only stance in Wellington would work if other surrounding communities didn’t follow suite.
“The kind of insurance that I have, I only have five doctors visits a year so one of those doctor’s visits, I’m going to have to get a prescription so then I only have four....then it’s going to cost me a $25 co-pay so instead of doing that here, the next time I’m in Wichita, I’m going to to Sam’s Club or Wal-mart and choose not to spend my money here in town and that’s what I’ve been hearing from people calling me on this,” said Mortimer.
Anderson knows it will be a burden for legitimate users of pseudoephedrine.
“I feel saddened for the legitimate patient that needs medicine, but I call out antibiotics and Loritab for a toothache on a Friday night. I would call out pseudoephedrine for you if I knew you. I think most doctors in this community will take care of you 24-7,” said Anderson.
Those without insurance are also a concern.
“Oregon Medicad had to pay an extra $8,000 — that’s enough money to clean up two labs,” said Anderson.
Anderson says pharmaceutical companies say 15 million people use pseudoephedrine products — only 5 percent of the American population.
“So for those 5 percent who have the inconvenience of having to call their doctor, the other 95 percent don’t have to worry about the meth lab across the street,” said Anderson.
Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) and Sen. Steve Abrams were on hand to offer their support towards the ordinance as well.
“I just wanted to come and support Dr. Anderson. I wish you would think really hard about this. We talked about this at Rotary today about people’s rights...should be punished the people who have a cold for the criminals? All that’s involved in this, but when you get down to it and think about the families and the people that are dying and dragging our society down...I think you’ll agree with Dr. Anderson,” said Wetta.
Abrams said though he was initially against the idea, it was a matter of dollars and cents for him.
“I thought long and hard about this...and it’s going to cost us no matter what happens because of the immense amount of damage that is done to families,” said Abrams.
Using meth just one time can cause addiction, he said, and the costs to help just one person are extravagant, let alone the cost for an epidemic.
“I think this is the least expensive method to try and solve this problem, but in the terms of families and actual dollars it takes to resolve the problem,” Abrams said.
