Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pseudoephrine: why it has sparked my interest.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant used in common over-the-counter cold drugs such as Sudafed products, Advil Cold & Sinus, and Claratin-D. However, pseudoephedrine has easily transitioned into the illegal drug circuit. Many drug users use pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine (meth). It is commonly sold in pharmacies and is easily accessed; these conveniences are probably reasons it is becoming popular among drug producers.
I chose to research pseudoephedrine because it has caught my curiosity while working as a clerk at a small-chain pharmacy. I have witnessed many potential drug abusers coming into the pharmacy to buy pseudoephedrine products, especially Sudafed-24 hour. Sudafed-24 hour is the strongest dose of pseudoephedrine sold over the counter. The state has required all pharmacies to keep a log of all pseudoephedrine sales in order to keep track of purchases by suspected drug abusers.
My research will explore the laws taken to reduce the abuse problem, my observations in the pharmacy, interviews from the pharmacy manager, and the effects and use of the abused product. Because I want to be a Pharmacist, I hope my research from this research blog will assist my future studies. I want to learn more about state-required procedures for pharmacies, pseudoephedrine uses and abuses, and how illegal drug producers use pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine. I believe this project will help me as I go into my major of pre-Pharmacy next fall.

No comments: