 Nationals SA Senate candidate, Mr. Mark Cuthbertson, says he is delighted with the announcement that SA pharmacists will be working closely with police to implement ‘Project Stop’, a national program designed to combat misuse of cold and flu medicines.
Mr Cuthbertson said the new online recording system is designed to help monitor and block access to pseudoephedrine-based medications by recording sales and requesting the ID of purchasers to track sales and stop suspicious supplies.
‘Pseudoephedrine is commonly used to make crystal methamphetamines - illegal “party” drugs known as “Speed” and “Ice”, with pharmacies in Adelaide the target of a string of break-ins by thieves looking for supplies of cold and flu medications.
‘In light of the seriousness of the current “Ice” epidemic, it is also important that pharmacies take steps to immediately reduce their stock these medications, and to secure supplies in a locked safe. The question also needs to be asked if in future, only non pseudoephedrine based cold and flu treatments should be sold by pharmacies,’ said Mr Cuthbertson.
‘A recent report in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia, found that amphetamines were now the main drivers of the rise in drug-induced psychoses, overtaking those caused by marijuana, and leading to a four-fold increase in the number of patients requiring treatment in emergency departments for heart problems and psychosis - including violent rages and other erratic behaviour,’ Mr Cuthbertson said.
Mr Cuthbertson is proposing a five point ‘Get tough on drugs’ action plan:
o Community drug education – a strong message needs to be put out that use of illegal drugs is unacceptable and detrimental to the health and wellbeing of both users and the broader community
o Greater industry self-regulation to reduce the incidence of drug abuse, including more restricted access to legal medications and drugs
o Increased surveillance of illegal drug use - including greater use of sniffer dogs, and random drug testing
o More resources for customs officers to intercept illegal imports of drugs and pre-cursor chemicals
o Compulsory treatment of addicts – any person convicted of a drug offence should be required by law to undertake a rehabilitation program.
Mr Cuthbertson said, ‘It’s time for Governments to get serious about what is now a national drug epidemic permeating all levels of society - as was so dramatically illustrated recently by the exposure of drug-taking AFL players.’
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