Australia: Pharmacy initiative to impact on drugs availability: council

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council says the National Pharmacy Guild's initiative to stop people stockpiling over the counter medicines will have a significant impact on the availability of illicit drugs.

The national program comprises of a computer network to track repeat buyers of pseudoephedrine, which can be used to make amphetamines.

All Australian pharmacies will be able to instantly share details of suspected drug runners between themselves and police.

The council's chief executive, Donna Bull, says amphetamines are currently the most widely used illicit drug after cannabis.

"I think taking a national approach, particularly with the transient nature of our communities and the ease of moving across borders, and so on, I think a national approach is absolutely critical if we are going to do something serious about a real problem," she said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 07 April 2006
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia -Web)
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Copyright: 2006 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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