WASHINGTON – A couple months before the Missouri legislature goes back into session, Matrix Global Advisors (MGA) released a new report on the impact of prescription-only (Rx-only) laws for pseudophedrine (PSE), calling them ineffective for addressing methamphetamine production and consumption.
Rx-only policies for the sinus and allergy medicine have been proposed and debated in the Missouri legislature in recent years but have yet to reach fruition due to large opposition.
The study reveals that Rx-only policies could cost consumers $130 million in the first year with $40 million of the cost directly on consumers. Additionally, the study notes that there would be no clear impact on the supply or demand for meth. It was conducted by Alex Brill, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who previously served as the chief economist for the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. He is the CEO of MGA.
Brill suggests focusing on the primary source of meth in the United States – foreign production – and proposes increased drug interdiction at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Meth production and use are still serious problems in certain states and regions of the country,” Brill said. “However, prescription-only legislation to limit PSE medicines is a misguided solution. With up to 90 percent of meth in the United States coming from Mexico, prescription-only legislation fails to confront the true source of the epidemic or address demand.”
The study confirms a recent report from the National Association of Model State Drug Laws, which assessed the meth landscape in the two states with Rx-only laws – Mississippi and Oregon – and concluded that “the relationship between the PSE prescription laws and the decline in meth lab incidents is spurious.”
“Drug use is a problem of supply and demand,” said Brill. “Even if the supply of drugs is diminished, addicts will pursue alternatives. In addition to efforts to reduce the supply of meth, communities must work together to create education campaigns to stop drug abuse before it begins.”
Because Rx-only legislation would impose more than $40 million in costs on consumers, Brill further suggests that states consider more targeted efforts that do not place an unnecessary burden on law-abiding citizens such as banning the sale of PSE products to known meth criminals. This can be done by working with the pharmaceutical industry to continue to expand programs such as the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx). Additionally, the MGA study underscores the need to promote policies to diminish the demand for meth through education programs as well as treatment for those addicted to the drug.
Read the full report here: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/460582/26648291/1446580663720/MGA_Pseudoephedrine_Study_November_2015.pdf?token=hUToaaPL1Cs4Fh%2Bv31uo6viyCx0%3D
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
