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angieh angieh
 
M$2.25 August 25, 2009 03:18 PM

Should instant cold packs be regulated as they can be used to make shake and bake meth?

The new fad in the crystal meth world lately is what they are calling shake and bake meth. Rather than traditional cooking, the meth is created in a plastic bottle using cold medications and other chemicals. Apparently the process uses ammonium nitrate which is found in instant cold packs.

Should the sale of cold packs be monitored because of this new trend or will it not matter as drug producers will find the chemicals they need one way or another?
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phryne phryne
 
 August 25, 2009 06:48 PM
No, though they may have to restrict pseudoephedrine even further.

You need to limit only one of the agents, usually the one that's already the most expensive or difficult to obtain. Guns are restricted, but bullets are available without even showing ID in most places. Which is ironic, since it's the bullets (cartridges, technically) that contain the explosive part. But the gun is the expensive part, so easier to regulate.

As long as the pseudoephedrine is restricted, further restricting the other components is a lot of work for relatively little added benefit. They may have to restrict it even further, perhaps going so far as to require tracking your purchases of it in a central database.

The total amount produced is limited to the most tightly regulated element. So unless you restrict the other element more tightly, it only makes it more trouble, but doesn't actually restrict the total drugs produced.
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jkepler jkepler
 
August 25, 2009 04:50 PM
That's a tough call Angie. Obviously, certain things need to be regulated, but no one really wants the level of regulation to get too high. I also wonder, if regulations were put into place, if they would actually be followed. Large retailers would obviously make an attempt, but it would likely still be possible for drug mixers to get what they're after.

I don't know how feasible this is, but it would be great if cold pack manufacturers could work to lessen the amount of these specific chemicals in their products. From what I understand, cold packs aren't cheap anyway, so if they could lower certain amounts, or substitute certain chemicals with others, it may make less financial sense for drug mixers at that point. I would only support regulation if it was determined that this kind of modification couldn't be done.

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chriskesle... chriskesle...
 
August 25, 2009 05:28 PM
NO; people who want to make 'shake and bake meth' or any other drug will find a way to make them whether or not the ingredients are regulated.

The general public should not be punished via restrictions for the actions of the minority.

The way to reduce drug use is to improve education, treatment, and punishments.

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relive2usf... relive2usf...
 
August 25, 2009 05:46 PM
It doesn't really matter if anything is regulated, people end up getting what they want anyway through the black market. If other drugs were regulated through our government people wouldn't have to resort to such unhealthy ways for a recreational high. This would also stop impurity issues to potentially dangerous drugs and help put a stop to the drug trafficking aspect of the black market.

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tkdgirlms tkdgirlms
 
August 25, 2009 05:52 PM
I think it should be regulated. They now regulate the purchase of decongestants due to drug users/makers using in the creation of drugs so why not instant cold packs. I think it will make it harder for pharmacists to have to keep up with but its a good idea. Yes, drug dealers will find a way to make them but it makes it harder. I don't use a big chain drug store and have to show my id and sign for decongestants - not a big deal for me. I agree Jkepler - that overall it would be good if drug companies could find a better, more efficient way to make their products but even if they did, drug dealers would just find a way to put that to use.

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ling ling
 
August 26, 2009 11:27 PM
Well I think that each pharmacy or drug store should monitor the sale of the cold packs and go from there. If the sale of this item is higher than the norm say over a period of time then its time to take action.

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godishere godishere
 
August 27, 2009 10:43 PM
No, I do not think that the instant cold packs should be at all regulated. Firstly, it is essential to learn how cold packs work. First, when you crack the pack, the ammonium nitrate is mixed in with another chemical that will release energy in the form of "coldness". If anyone tried to open one of these packs, they would be doused with a poisonous chemical. Also, the ammonium nitrate is not that powerful that it would create methamphetamine.

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