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West Virginia retailers say drug dealers are having a tougher time getting their hands on over-thecounter medications containing pseudoephedrine since the Mountain State became one of the 33 states using NPLEx, a real-time electronic tracking system monitoring sales.
NPLEx, more formally known as the National Precursor Log Exchange, is a real-time electronic logging and compliance system tracking sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing cold medicines such as pseudoephedrine, which are used to manufacture crystal meth. NPLEx allows pharmacists to scan a buyer's identifying information, then electronically search that person's buying records in the 33 participating states. If a buyer has exceeded the allowed purchase limit, that person will be blocked from making another purchase for a set amount of time.
In West Virginia, individuals cannot purchase more than 3.6 grams per day 7.2 grams per 30 days or 48 grams in a 12-month period without a prescription.
Since the tracking system was launched in West Virginia at the end of 2013, West Virginia Retailers Association President Bridget Lambert says the input system blocked the sale of 182,000 grams of pseudoephedrine - almost 51,000 boxes. Sales in West Virginia of over-thecounter medications containing pseudoephedrine have dropped by more than 50 percent since the state started using NPLEx.
Nationally, NPLEx has been instrumental in blocking the sale of more than 25 million grams of pseudoephedrine.
"We believe it has been effective at the pharmacy level in identifying and controlling how much product is available to consumers," Lambert said. "And it's been a vital tool to our pharmacists. It's much easier than the old paper...