New high-tech tool tracks pseudoephedrine sales

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governor Jay Nixon has unveiled a new high-tech effort to stop methamphetamine dealers by cutting them off from pseudoephedrine, a cold medicine that's also a key ingredient in meth.

Nixon announced that Appriss Inc., was selected to build Missouri's first database that tracks purchases of pseudoephedrine products. The database will allow pharmacists and law enforcement to determine at the point of sale whether the buyer has gone from store to store buying large amounts of pseudoephedrine as a way to circumvent legal limits.

When operational, the system will automatically deny the sale to a buyer who has exceeded the daily maximum purchase of 3.6 grams, or 120 standard tablets.

Nixon said the system would allow people who legitimately need the cold medicine to purchase it, but will block sales to people trying to build an inventory to make methamphetamine.

"Meth consumption continues to be a problem that devastates families and even whole communities in Missouri," Gov. Nixon said. "This database will be another important step toward cutting off meth makers at the source."

A selection committee representing health officials, pharmacy representatives, police and prosecutors chose Appriss from among six companies that submitted bids to create and operate the system. Appriss already operates similar systems linking some 18,000 pharmacies in states surrounding Missouri.

Senate Bill 724, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law in 2008, required the creation of an electronic system in which pseudoephedrine purchases could be tracked. It is expected that the system will be up and running within three months.

Because pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pick up the cost of developing the database and to cover ongoing costs, this will be an efficient way to combat a major public health and public safety problem at no cost to taxpayers.

Under current law, pseudoephedrine products can be sold only at a pharmacy and must be kept behind a counter. Buyers must show identification and sign a register. Law enforcement must review dozens of registers to find the names of people making multiple purchases.

Under the proposed system, pharmacists will enter the buyer's name into the database and get an immediate record of how much pseudoephedrine the person has purchased, and where and when the purchases were made. If the new purchase would put the buyer over the daily or monthly limit, the purchase will be denied.

A buyer who is denied would receive a receipt with Appriss' phone number asking the person to call Appriss for an explanation of the denial. The system is also able to spot fake identification cards, flag multiple purchasers living at the same address and track other suspicious patterns.

Under the contract, Appriss also will provide free training to pharmacy staffs on how to use the system. The company also will provide free training to law enforcement personnel on how to spot suspicious purchases.