We have all taken cold medications at some point or another. The benefits of a Sudafed like product, especially those with the ingredient pseudo ephedrine are numerous. Pseudo ephedrine is most commonly marketed as a decongestant and it is found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy remedies. Typically it is used in combination with antihistamines and/or ibuprofen to help people be more comfortable through an illness or a seasonal allergy. Sudafed is the most well know trademark for the common brand of pseudo ephedrine hydrochloride. Mostly remedies with pseudo ephedrine help you feel decongested so you can go about your day with some aspect of normalcy. Unfortunately, there is a darker side to pseudo ephedrine which is why the ingredient has been in the news of late.
Pseudo ephedrine is one of the ingredients in home made Crystal Methamphetamine, which is purported to be the most popular illicit drug in America today. One of the reasons for its popularity is the ease of access and how easy it is to produce in a home based lab. Crystal Methamphetamine is an illegal drug that is manufactured and sold illicitly to drug users. It is typically a clear or chunky crystal and it is usually smoked or snorted. Crystal Methamphetamine is very easy, although dangerous, to produce in small, clandestine labs. Many drug makers set labs up in a kitchen or bathroom and the drug itself is created by mixing about 15 substances together.
As stated above, the primary ingredient in Crystal Methamphetamine is pseudo ephedrine which has been easily accessible as an over the counter cold remedy. Drug makers mix this with red phosphorous, iodine and ammonia, paint thinner, ether, drain cleaner and the lithium from batteries. Obviously, many of these ingredients are incredible volatile and can cause explosions and major fires. The drug is particularly disturbing because of its highly addictive nature, how easy and yet dangerous it is to make and that is reported that about $150.00 of materials can generate around $10,000.00 of Crystal Methamphetamine.
In some cases in Canada and in the US, over the counter medications containing pseudo ephedrine are now being sold from behind the counter thereby forcing buyers to interact with the pharmacist. This may help the issue of using these OTC medications in the production of Crystal Methamphetamine. The Drug makers affected by this move to ban over the counter drugs from being sold anywhere but in a pharmacy are resistant to this course of action because they are concerned about limiting the accessibility of their product to consumers. Additionally, some drug companies are voluntarily reformulating their medications to remove pseudo ephedrine from the ingredient list. Not all drug makers are anxious to engage in this expensive process. Sadly, the bottom line is more important than attempting to curb the manufacture of a dangerous drug.
Hopefully, some of these methods will curb the use of pseudo ephedrine being used to manufacture Crystal Methamphetamine. The effect of this dangerous drug on many young people can prompt illness, injury and death.