New meth law generates questions for Drug Czar

Iowa’s new meth law is generating lots of calls from inside and outside the state to the drug czar’s office. The law takes effect May 21st and will require cold medications containing the meth-making ingredient pseudoephedrine to be kept behind the counter. The director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, Marv Van Haaften, has been busy on the phone.He says, “I’ve probably talked to 20 or 30 states. I was just asked this morning if I would fly to Boston to speak to the Attorney Generals meeting of the eastern part of the United States.” Van Haaften says he doesn’t know for sure if he’ll be flying to Boston, but he will be flying to the Washington for a White House luncheon in May at the request of the National Office of Drug Control Policy. Van Haaften says he’s also gotten a lot of calls from in Iowa.He says most have been from retailers and wholesalers who want to know how they can comply with the law. Van Haaften says his office has set up a one-stop spot for people to check on the new law. He says they’ve put guidelines on their website for consumers, retailers, pharmacists and law officers. He says they felt that would be the best way to deal with all the questions. Polk, Iowa’s largest county has already enacted a local ordinance controlling the sale of the cold remedies. Van Haaften says he found out first hand how the ordinance works when he stopped on the way home to buy some cold medication. He admits it was “inconvenient.” He says, “I had to personally get out my driver’s license. Had to explain what my phone number was and all of that. So, it is slightly more inconvenient, but will it is inconvenient, people support it because it’s going to have an impact on meth labs.” To find out more information on the new law, surf to the Office of Drug Control Policy’s website at: www.state.ia.us/odcp.