Oklahoma Adopts Anti-Meth Law That Tracks Sale Of Cold Medication

The state just adopted a new anti-meth law which will track the sale of some types of cold medication from state to state.

7/21/2012 Related Story: System Implementing Anti-Meth Law Expected October 1

Over the counter medicines like Sudafed and Claritin-D contain the meth making ingredient pseudoephedrine.

Currently, Oklahoma tracks the amount of pseudoephedrine containing medication a person can buy from pharmacy to pharmacy within the state, but not outside it.

The real time tracking system, has sent some buyers across state lines.

"They cross the border to Texas, Arkansas, Missouri," said Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward.

The new law, designed to close the state to state shopping loophole, went into effect July 1, but won't go online until October 1.

OBN says syncing up the national system to current statewide tracking will take months.

"It's frustrating because I'd like to see it change right from the get go," said Dani Lynch, owner of Thrifty Pharmacy.

OBN says pharmacists should not notice a change from the current system.

The new system reduces the amount of pseudoephedrine containing medication that a customer is allowed to purchase from 9 grams per month to 7.2 grams, which is about three boxes.