25/04/2007

Possible restrictions on flu remedies following crystal meth fears

Some flu remedies which are sold over-the-counter could be made available on prescription only, amid fears that ingredients contained in them are being used to make Class A drug crystal meth.

Health Minister Caroline Flint said that police had discovered that pseudoephedrine and ephedrine - both of which are used in products such as Lemsip - had been found in raids in drug factories and could be extracted from the products relatively easily in order to produce the drug.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is now considering plans to restrict the pack size of medicines and to make products containing both ingredients prescription-only.

The Home Office reclassified crystal meth, or methylamphetamine, last January to make it a Class A drug.

A stimulant, crystal meth is highly addictive. It affects the central nervous system and can cause serious physical and psychological harm.

In a written Commons statement, Ms Flint said: "Although the prevalence of misuse of methylamphetamine is believed to be currently low in the UK, the Association of Chief Police Officers are receiving increasing levels of intelligence about the prevalence of methylamphetamine.

"If methylamphetamine did secure a hold in the UK, the consequences would undoubtedly be very serious."

(KMcA/JM)


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