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Oklahoma
State Legislature
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012
Committee clears measure to fight meth manufacturers
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a measure
that would arm law enforcement officials with additional tools to
fight meth manufacturers while protecting citizens’ access
to the medicines they need.
Senate Bill 1634, authored by Sen. Rick
Brinkley, would limit over-the-counter purchases of pseudoephedrine,
without making the substance available by prescription only. Under
Brinkley’s proposal, pseudoephedrine purchases would be limited
to 3.6 grams in a single day, and 7.2 grams per month - the recommended
therapeutic dosage.
“I disagree with members of the Legislature who favor a bill
to make pseudoephedrine available by prescription only, but I think
we all agree we have to do something to fight the meth problem in
this state,” said Brinkley, R-Tulsa. “My proposal is
a way to arm law enforcement with resources while allowing law-abiding
citizens the ability to get the medicines they need. Under this
bill, consumers will still be able to do that without the burden
and expense of a doctor’s visit.”
SB 1634 would also allow the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous
Drugs to track pseudoephedrine purchases across state lines. 14,000
boxes of pseudoephedrine were bought in Kansas and Missouri by Oklahomans
using their driver’s licenses, according to the agency. This
tool would allow law enforcement to track where those purchases
are being made and accurately target potential meth labs, Brinkley
said.
Brinkley noted that if pseudoephedrine were to be made available
by prescription only, it would result in an estimated $28 million
increase in costs for insurance providers.
“That $28 million increase would be passed on to small business
and consumers,” Brinkley said. “So they would not only
be forced to go to the trouble of going to a doctor, but they would
also be forced to pay higher insurance rates for a medication that
has been available over the counter for 36 years.”
Senate Bill 1634 now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
For more information contact:
Sen. Brinkley: (405) 521-5566
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