Pseudoephedrine sales in West Virginia are down 30 percent this year compared to the same five-month period in 2013.
Data from the NPLEx tracking system show pharmacies in West Virginia have sold 145,526 boxes of cold medications containing pseudoephedrine since January. Pharmacies sold 205,113 boxes during the same period last year.
The data also show a 40 percent decrease in the number of pseudoephedrine purchases that are blocked.
Pseudoephedrine is a cold medication ingredient that’s used illegally to manufacture methamphetamine.
West Virginia Retailers Association executive director Bridget Lambert tells media outlets that she plans to ask the Legislature to take an additional step to restrict pseudoephedrine sales. She proposes creation of a meth-offender registry that would prohibit people convicted of meth-related crimes from buying pseudoephedrine.