News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 1997
DEA
AND WAL-MART ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO REDUCE AVAILABILITY OF OTC DRUGS
USED IN CLANDESTINE MANUFACTURE OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN THE U.S.
The Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and Wal-Mart have formed a partnership to control
large-scale purchases of three key over-the-counter (OTC) products, pseudoephedrine,
ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, used in the clandestine manufacture
of methamphetamine and amphetamine.* After meeting with DEA representatives
at a national meeting of Wal-Mart pharmacy managers in Kansas City, Missouri,
on Jan. 16, 1997, Wal-Mart management moved to restrict sales of these
allergy/cold/diet preparations which have been diverted from legitimate
use and seized in clandestine labs throughout California, Western, Southwestern
and Midwestern States.
According to DEA
Administrator Thomas A. Constantine, "Wal-Mart has proven itself
a leader in corporate responsibility. It is refreshing to work with Wal-Mart
executives who pride themselves upon being a good neighbor
and voluntarily doing what is right."
Wal-Marts Vice-President
of Corporate Affairs Jay Allen adds, "Like the customers in our communities,
Wal-Mart associates are concerned with the growing issues of drug abuse,
as well as the fire and chemical hazards and environmental damage caused
by clandestine methamphetamine labs. As a responsible retailer, Wal-Mart
is proud to partner with the DEA in supporting efforts to curtail illicit
manufacture of methamphetamine in the U.S."
Methamphetamine is
quickly becoming the growth drug of the 1990s. Known on the street
as "crank," "ice," and "speed," methamphetamine
is a dangerous man-made stimulant that results in the same addiction cycle
and physiological trauma associated with crack cocaine. It has been called
"poor mans cocaine" because it is cheaper and provides
a longer lasting high than cocaine. In addition, it can be injected, smoked,
snorted or taken orally, making it increasingly attractive to casual users
and young people.
Methamphetamine and
amphetamine are produced in clandestine labs using pseudoephedrine, ephedrine,
and phenylpropanolamine in the U.S. and Mexico. Although these groups
are still involved in the trade, drug trafficking criminal organizations
from Mexico have begun to dominate the market in the United States. Traditionally,
the suppliers of methamphetamine in the U.S. have been outlaw motorcycle
gangs and independent traffickers. Methamphetamine has spread from California
and the Southwest to the Midwest and Southeast where clandestine labs
have been discovered by law enforcement.
According to Constantine,
"Wal-Mart, the nations largest employer, is setting an example
of community concern by implementing a chain-wide policy limiting the
sales of these allergy, cold and diet products. These controls are aimed
at drug traffickers. Cold and allergy sufferers, as well as dieters, will
not be inconvienced or harmed and should not see any changes in making
their purchases in Wal-Mart stores."
Wal-Marts current
initiative is even stricter than federal regulations stipulated under
the second phase of the Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996, which will
go into effect on October 3, 1997. These regulations will impose controls
on sales of psuedophedrine and phenylpropanolamine products (ephedrine
products were controlled under the first phase of the act.) Wal-Marts
trigger-level is 3-4 times more stringent than the regulations require.
The cash registers
in every Wal-Mart, some 2,300 across the country, have been programmed
to limit sales to 3-6 packages of these items per customer. In addition,
they are discontinuing the 100-count bottle of their Equate
brand 60 MG pseudoephedrine tablets that have been found at illicit labs,
replacing it with smaller blister-packs. Wal-Marts initiative also
limits the sale of blister packs which will generally be exempt from the
new federal regulations. And finally, they are posting signs in all their
stores informing customers about Wal-Marts cooperation with the
DEA.
"Wal-Mart is
breaking new ground with this initiative and we hope that other retailers
will follow their lead," Constantine concluded.
(*Note: Pseudophedrine
and ephedrine are used to manufacture methamphetamine. Phenylpropanolamine
is used to produce amphetamine. Although amphetamine abuse is a problem
in the United States, methamphetamine abuse is by far the greater problem.)
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