Meth bust highlights flaws in legislation

The massive meth bust reported in the Herald March 4 ("$1.75 million in meth found during traffic stop") would seem to call into question the potential effectiveness of the Illinois Senate bill that would require a doctor's prescription for any drug containing pseudoephedrine, which is a raw material for making meth. The individual driving the meth car was a Minneapolis man, underlining the fact that the material can always be brought in from elsewhere. This strongly suggests that adding additional controls on pseudoephedrine in Illinois alone is not going to significantly reduce meth availability here.

On the other hand, the drawbacks to the general public are clear. Requiring prescriptions for the medication will add considerable inconvenience and hassle for those who require it, not to mention the expense of a visit to the doctor's office to get the prescription.

Leo Hickey

Arlington Heights