The National Methamphetamine
Drug Conference
Precursor Chemical Control: International and Domestic Efforts to Limit Production
Chair; Laura Birkmeyer, J.D.,
Assistant United States Attorney
Recommendations:
- Make phenylpropanolamine subject to United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Drugs.
- Develop government and industry partnerships with voluntary initiatives combining law enforcement and education.
- Reevaluate sentencing practices of amphetamine drugs.
First, we must close the gaps in international law with respect to the control of precursor chemicals. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine are not made but are imported into the United States. Phenylpropanolamine, for example, should be subject to the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Drugs. Such a designation would allow the State Department, DEA and others to more effectively negotiate its use and help to limit diversion.
Second, and on the domestic front, we should increase voluntary working relationships with legitimate industry. Up to a year ago, it would have been difficult to find a partnership between legitimate industry and law enforcement. But through the innovative efforts of the DEA and Wal-Mart, we see that such a partnership can work. Price-Cosco is about to enter a very similar agreement with the government to voluntarily restrict the availability of certain precursor products.
These businesses have and will continue to agree to limit the sales of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine-based products. Businesses enforce limits by programming registers, displaying appropriate signage, and reducing available stock; employees sometimes steal large quantities of these products. Wholesalers are willing to review and computerize checks of products sent out to customers. Large sellers will flag these sales and verify them before the shipment goes out.
Our final recommendation concerns sentencing practice. We noticed there are gaps in the law. First, while the 1996 Methamphetamine Control Act directed an increase in penalties, the group felt the increase was not sufficient to deter rogue companies, and we should raise the penalties. Secondly, there is great disparity between the sentencing structures and penalties for amphetamine and methamphetamine. Now that phenylpropanolamine is becoming a widely-used precursor product that results in the manufacture of amphetamine, we should make the penalties commensurate.
