In Our View: Crowded shelf

In Our View: Crowded shelf

Coricidin joins pseudoephedrine behind counter

Move over, pseudoephedrine, you're about to have some company.

Fearful of the attractive high of the over-the-counter cold medicine for people with high blood pressure, pharmacies are beginning to limit the amount of Coricidin that can be bought and some are putting the drug behind the pharmacy counter and treating its sales like that of pseudoephedrine-sales limits, identification and signature required.

What the kids are after is an ingredient in Coricidin called dextromethorphan, a preparation that in proper quantities helps reduce coughing but in higher concentrations causes a psychedelic-like high.

It's a cheap way for kids to get a buzz, and it's becoming popular with younger teens who so far have had little problem buying what they want-at least for now. Sooner or later Coricidin will join other OTC medications that have a real, effective purpose but in the wrong hands can be abused or turned into other, more dangerous illegal drugs.

Of course, it would be far better if we truly understood the causes of addiction and what compels teens and young children to test their mortality with mind-altering substances. But until we know more about addiction and work to end the demand rather than starve the supply, the best approach is to restrict the sales of drugs that become popular because of their abuse potential.

Consumers with a legitimate need for such medications are the ones who bear most of the inconvenience, but sometimes that's a small price to pay when the end result is a reduction in the amount of illegal drugs available on our streets. Restricting sales of pseudoephedrine has proved to be effective, and that should hold true for Coricidin. It's not the best solution, but it's a reasonable effort until something better emerges.

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2.../opinions01.txt

[Rexedgeltoe]

Of course, it would be far better if we truly understood the causes of addiction and what compels teens and young children to test their mortality with mind-altering substances.

Aren't we being just a tad bit pretentious here. You'd think by this dude's tone that there wasn't any such thing as safe and responsible use of drugs. And as for addiction, I'm pretty sure porn and sugar are statistically a lot worse in that department, but they don't "test people's mortality" so I guess it's alright.

[levomethorphan]

Restricting sales of pseudoephedrine has proved to be effective

I always thought effective anti-meth programs were supposed to make the number of meth labs go down.

They must have meant effective in treating legitimate customers like criminals. Yeah, that's probably it.

[PeoplesMind]

I am aware of one recent Texarkansas University DXM OD about 3 months ago, related to DXM and the internet. Perhaps this is a response to the incident urged on by the local citizens.

-Nitin

[Midknight]

I think people want to test their "morals" with mind altering substances because the state of the world has left millions of free thinkers in doubt, and drugs enhance this for a large percentage of these people, and they like the freedom from the worlds "morals" so they can realise their own.

You can't treat morals, they are made, and no ammount of therapy or mindwashing will stop a freethinker from free thinking, at least not any amount of "legal" therapy.

[Einherjar]

this is news?

[dawhiterabbit]

yeah just another move over buddy i am taking over this shelf!

wait does that even make sense?........fuck this i quit i am too fucked up to type

[Rexedgeltoe]

Originally posted by Midknight@Feb 26 2005, 08:11 PM
I think people want to test their "morals" with mind altering substances because the state of the world has left millions of free thinkers in doubt, and drugs enhance this for a large percentage of these people, and they like the freedom from the worlds "morals" so they can realise their own.

You can't treat morals, they are made, and no ammount of therapy or mindwashing will stop a freethinker from free thinking, at least not any amount of "legal" therapy.

Mortality, not morality... I made the same mistake the first time I read it.

[brollie]

Pseudoephedrine's behind the counter? That's news for me. But then, I'm a Canadian.

"Of course, it would be far better if we truly understood the causes of addiction and what compels teens and young children to test their mortality with mind-altering substances. But until we know more about addiction and work to end the demand rather than starve the supply, the best approach is to restrict the sales of drugs that become popular because of their abuse potential."

Addiction? Just because I can enjoy a substance for a reason secondary to its intended medical purpose means I'm addicted? I think not.

The human race has survived millions of years without regulating substances, why should we do things any differently now?

Anyways, I'm too dexed for a coherent post :P

[n__u]

And this reporter calls himself a journalist? Sigh.