Vent about limits on buying Sudafed

[ducklite]

Sounds to me like they were going after the wrong types of employees. I work in an office that does drug testing daily and while we do get bad screenings we get plenty of clean ones back every day. Keep in mind I live in an area of NC where there are a lot of pot heads, so I'm shocked there are so many clean drug tests coming back. There are plenty of clean ones out there, the companies just have to look in the right places.

How do you figure? There were no people to hire! We'd get 30 applications for a job. The job requires a reasonably clean license (one speeding ticket is OK), clean drug test, and no felony convictions in the past five years (longer for some things like rape/murder). We'd call all 15 of them who checked that they had a valid license and no felonies for interviews. Eight wouldn't show up. Of the ones who did show, two would have a suspended license, two would have felony convictions, and the rest would test positive for drugs.

We gave bonuses to employees who refered people. We advertised in the local paper, monster, career builder. Our manager went out to other retail stores to recruit people. We weren't the only company with this problem. Over half the businesses in this town have closed in the past 18 months. trust me, it wasn't for lack of trying.

Anne

 

[disneysteve]

I thought medical companies gave meds to doctor's offices to distribute to patients to try, or maybe low income patients? I didn't realize they were for the doctor's family & personal use.

Pharmaceutical companies distribute samples to promote their products and get doctors to use them. That's it. Nothing more altruistic than that. Besides, my family members are among my patients. The drug companies know that if the doctor tries a med on his family, staff members or himself, and gets good results, he will be far more likely to prescribe it to his other patients.

 

[Nancy]

That isn't the one they can make meth from. For some people, myself included, this one simply doesn't work. I have to have the real stuff. With all my allergies, you have GOT to have this stuff along with Allegra, Singulair and nose spray to keep breathing free.

I used to buy the real stuff until the law changed. the Sudafed I bought yesterday is the new PE stuff. I took 1 pill and it seems to be working OK right now. Of course I haven't been outside yet either. Most allergy meds never worked for me at all, the only thing that worked is Sudafed.

 

[TCPluto]

The comapny I work for just closed a store in a rural part of a mid-Atlantic state. We had two problems. First, we couldn't find enough people to test negative on drug tests and not have felony convictions in the past five years to staff the store with anymore, and second, the customer base had diminished to the point of almost zilch because almost the entire town is on meth. It was a losing battle, so we cut our losses and closed shop as soon as the lease was up.

Anne

I thought you were the super glam, living like a rock star with purple hair, living in the ultra posh gated community, photo journalist publishing stoires in Rolling Stoned?

Your employer's experiences could be related to your recruiting practices or any number of other factors unrelated to the true complexion of the meth use in the area.

But the use of meth and the clandestine production of meth are two seperate discussions. Purchasing precursors goes to the discussion of the production of meth, not merely the use. The process of clandestine meth production comes with an entirely different set of public health and safety concerns.

 

[eclectics]

I thought you were the super glam, living like a rock star with purple hair, living in the ultra posh gated community, photo journalist publishing stoires in Rolling Stoned?

There's the Pluto we all know. I was starting to get worried!

 

[peachgirl]

All those numbers prove to me is that the meth labs are becoming more careful about evading authorities.

Anne

And I'd like to see a stat to back that ridiculous statement up.

That is beyond ridiculous and in that case, no statistic will satisfy you. You really believe that a 90% reduction in meth labs just since the implementation of our laws is a result of producers hiding their activity better?

We instituted a very restrictive policy and within 12 months of that policy being in effect, meth lab busts reduced by 51%. In Oregon, they saw a 42% drop in just 4 months. That is not because meth labs miraculously got better at evading authorities.

Apparently you aren't familiar with how a local meth lab actually works.

They were always hidden and always incredibly difficult to bust. I can tell you that a teacher who lived within 1 mile of me operated a meth lab out of her garage for several years. This is a tiny community and no one knew she was doing it until she blew her garage up. That's usually how they get caught. They have a fire and at that point, there's no hiding what they were doing.


It's not like they were hanging neon signs out advertising what they were doing behind closed doors. They were always good at hiding it. That's the reason for the laws.

 

[ducklite]

I thought you were the super glam, living like a rock star with purple hair, living in the ultra posh gated community, photo journalist publishing stoires in Rolling Stoned?

First of all, that's more than a little rude. Jealous much?

My hair isn't purple. I write for a local music magazine plus do freelance work for some nationals when I can get it and/or have the time. I never mentioned Rolling Stone, so I guess you pulled that out of your pipe along with the purple hair. I live in a gated community. It's very nice, but not what I'd call ultra posh. I never said it was, so keep it up, you'll just discredit yourself more.

Your employer's experiences could be related to your recruiting practices or any number of other factors unrelated to the true complexion of the meth use in the area.

When over half of the businesses in town have closed for similar reasons in the previous 18 months, I don't think it's just us. But then again you aren't my boss and are completely irrelevent to my paycheck, so think whatever disillusionied thoughts you'd like to. I don't really care.

But the use of meth and the clandestine production of meth are two seperate discussions. Purchasing precursors goes to the discussion of the production of meth, not merely the use. The process of clandestine meth production comes with an entirely different set of public health and safety concerns.

Uh, yeah, and what's your point? never mind, because you obviously can't get your facts straight, don't waste your time answering.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

And I'd like to see a stat to back that ridiculous statement up.

That is beyond ridiculous and in that case, no statistic will satisfy you. You really believe that a 90% reduction in meth labs just since the implementation of our laws is a result of producers hiding their activity better?

We instituted a very restrictive policy and within 12 months of that policy being in effect, meth lab busts reduced by 51%. In Oregon, they saw a 42% drop in just 4 months. That is not because meth labs miraculously got better at evading authorities.

Apparently you aren't familiar with how a local meth lab actually works.

They were always hidden and always incredibly difficult to bust. I can tell you that a teacher who lived within 1 mile of me operated a meth lab out of her garage for several years. This is a tiny community and no one knew she was doing it until she blew her garage up. That's usually how they get caught. They have a fire and at that point, there's no hiding what they were doing.


It's not like they were hanging neon signs out advertising what they were doing behind closed doors. They were always good at hiding it. That's the reason for the laws.

It's no more ridiculous than the Federal Governement stating specific numbers of methlabs operating in the US. That is absurdity at it's finest.

Anne

 

[winniedapooh]

Try buying for a family of six, all with colds. I kept having to drag my miserable self back to the store

I feel your pain....7 of us here and 4 have allergies and 2 have major ear problems!

 

[peachgirl]

The comapny I work for just closed a store in a rural part of a mid-Atlantic state. We had two problems. First, we couldn't find enough people to test negative on drug tests and not have felony convictions in the past five years to staff the store with anymore, and second, the customer base had diminished to the point of almost zilch because almost the entire town is on meth. It was a losing battle, so we cut our losses and closed shop as soon as the lease was up.

BTW--The chief of police was recently caught using meth with two of the five officers that work for this town.

Anne

Meth use has very little to do with meth labs. If there was not a single meth lab operating in the US, it would have a very insignificant impact, if any at all on meth use.

It's no more ridiculous than the Federal Governement stating specific numbers of methlabs operating in the US. That is absurdity at it's finest.

What are you talking about???

No one is referring to the number of meth labs operating in the U.S. The stats I'm referring to are the number of meth lab busts and that is a very trackable number.

 

[eclectics]

Meth use has very little to do with meth labs. If there was not a single meth lab operating in the US, it would have a very insignificant impact, if any at all on meth use.

You lost me there.

I have no idea, but wouldn't imported Meth be quite a bit more expensive than the homegrown variety? The less expensive it is, more people would be tempted to buy and more people would be using it. No?

 

[Free4Life11]

This is one thing I hate dealing with, and feel bad about some of the time. I've had customers needing adult and child of the same thing, and the computer won't let both be rung up. And there is no way to override it. Some people screw it up for everybody.

How about ring up each box as a separate transaction?

 

[peachgirl]

You lost me there.

I have no idea, but wouldn't imported Meth be quite a bit more expensive than the homegrown variety? The less expensive it is, more people would be tempted to buy and more people would be using it. No?

I really don't know about price differences, but the reason local meth labs aren't a significant source is that they can't produce enough to be a large supplier. They can certainly make enough to make themselves a lot of money, but their "customers" are usually just a very few people...mostly a family and friends sort of thing. It's yet another reason why they're hard to bust. It's not likely they'll get caught distributing it.

 

[Mkrop]

How about ring up each box as a separate transaction?

I thought this was illegal and if you have to show ID then Mary is still buying it even if it just 5 minutes apart or in a different store. Am I right?

 

[eclectics]

I really don't know about price differences, but the reason local meth labs aren't a significant source is that they can't produce enough to be a large supplier. They can certainly make enough to make themselves a lot of money, but their "customers" are usually just a very few people...mostly a family and friends sort of thing. It's yet another reason why they're hard to bust. It's not likely they'll get caught distributing it.

Thanks. I was under the impression these mom and pop labs could produce quite a bit of cheap meth. So I'm assuming the "big boys" get their meth from overseas?

 

[peachgirl]

Thanks. I was under the impression these mom and pop labs could produce quite a bit of cheap meth. So I'm assuming the "big boys" get their meth from overseas?

Mexico seems to be the largest supplier from what I've read.

 

[va32h]

Although Sudafed et al are behind the counter, as far as I know there are no regulations in Texas limiting the number of times you can purchase it per month. Maybe that's what I should be selling on Ebay.

 

[disneymom3]

I havent bought some in awhile but you can go to one store buy some and then go down the road and buy some more am I understanding this correctly, this is insane???????

I don't know if they track it but I have done that. What is to stop a criminal from just hitting every pharmacy in the area? I hvae done it for the same reason others have mentioned--sick kid, sick grownup, couldn't buy both kinds. Dumb dumb dumb!

And yes, I am waiting for the DEA to bust down the door!

 

[tinatark]

That would be more of a problem with Wal Mart and their pain in the butt way of doing things than it is with the law.

Actually, No -Wal Mart doesn't say I have to go to the pharmacy counter to show my id to make the purchase, I believe that is the law.

It would bug me whether there was no line and 3 registers open, or a huge line and 1 register open, as it happened while I was there.

 

[mariolatry]

Well, you're completely wrong here. The law has had a significant impact on the number and size of meth labs across the country.

Actually, one of the new trends is to use semi trucks as mobile meth labs so that the neighbors don't smell anything. It's very effective, especially in the rural areas and on the interstates.

DH works for poison control and deals with meth a lot.