Tracking system blocks 13 thousand sales of meth ingredients
A new statewide tracking system that monitors over-the-counter ingredients used to make methamphetamine blocked more than 13 thousand sales in the last nine months.
Three ingredients, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, are being tracked.
Washington was among the first states to create a statewide tracking system. The program was activated in October and through the end of July, the system logged over 1 million purchases and blocked the sales of over 13 thousand.
“Our state was once called ‘the poster child for the meth epidemic,’ and we’re now recognized as a success story,” said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky.
The system records the buyer’s id, along with the type and amount of product. Real-time information shows the cashier if the buyer has exceeded the allowed quantity of medication.
Sales are restricted to 3.6 grams per purchase, and no more than nine grams during a 30-day period.
