CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislative efforts to require prescriptions for medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a key meth ingredient, have the support of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Substance Abuse.
“The evidence is there that it works in terms of reducing the amount of meth labs that we have in the state,” said the Rev. James Patterson who leads the Partnership of African American Churches.
On Wednesday, Patterson and the other members of the Governor’s Advisory Council voted to recommend that medications made with pseudoephedrine be moved behind the pharmacy counter.
It was one of several recommendations made to address substance abuse in the Mountain State.
Del. Don Perdue (D-Wayne, 19), chairman of the House Health Committee, is one of the lawmakers who plans to again introduce a prescription requirement for such medicines when the 2014 Regular Legislative Session begins in January.
Patterson said meth labs are community dangers. “My experience is the impact that this is having on children and families and tearing homes apart and causing all of these problems, specifically for children,” he said on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
So far this year, records showed more than 460 meth labs have been found in West Virginia.