CHPA praises signing into law of anti-methamphetamine bill

Law Implements Real-Time, Stop-Sale Technology

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today applauded Ohio Governor John Kasich for signing into law House Bill 334, an anti-methamphetamine bill authored by Representative Terry Johnson (R-Portsmouth) and Representative Danny Bupb (R-West Union). With the new law, Ohio now becomes the 25th state to adopt real-time, stop-sale technology known as the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx).

NPLEx is an exceptional tool that enables retailers—in a process similar to a credit card transaction—to block unlawful attempted purchases of cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) that exceed daily or monthly limits established by the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. While law-abiding consumers make the vast majority of PSE purchases, some hardened criminals illegally obtain these products in order to manufacture meth. NPLEx empowers retailers and pharmacists with the ability to track and block illegal sales of products containing PSE before they happen. Prior to NPLEx, retailers had to manually record PSE purchases in a hand-written logbook—a cumbersome and ineffective system for preventing unlawful sales.

NPLEx is also a useful tool for police officers and narcotics agents. Law enforcement officials have instant access to PSE purchasing activity and can determine if a suspect is purchasing PSE in order to manufacture meth. NPLEx is provided at no charge to the state. By passing HB 334, Ohio becomes the 25^th state to adopt the proven system. Since NPLEx was first launched in 2008, the system has blocked hundreds-of-thousands of attempted purchases and led to numerous arrests and convictions every year.

"I commend Representative Johnson and Representative Bupb for the leadership they displayed by shepherding HB 334 through the Ohio House and Senate," said Scott M. Melville , the president and chief executive officer of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. "Ohio now joins 24 states that have adopted real-time, stop-sale technology. Not only does the proven system stop illegal sales of popular cold and allergy medicines, it also ensures that law-abiding consumers continue to have access to the medicines they rely on for relief from cold and allergy symptoms. Now that Ohio has adopted HB 334, half of the states in the nation now employ the technology. Passage of this important legislation is a significant step in Ohio's battle against meth production and a victory for law enforcement officials, retailers, doctors, and consumers."