Premium
Reporting Purchasers of Pseudoephedrine Products to Police: New Zealand Community Pharmacists' Experiences
Author(s) -
Sheridan Janie,
Kairuz Therese,
Butler Rachael
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2007.tb00651.x
Subject(s) - pseudoephedrine , medicine , pharmacy , community pharmacy , community pharmacist , identification (biology) , medical emergency , product (mathematics) , family medicine , ephedrine , pharmacology , botany , geometry , mathematics , biology
Background Pseudoephedrine is the precursor of choice for the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine, much of which is obtained through purchases of pseudoephedrine products from community pharmacies. Aim To investigate issues surrounding data collection by community pharmacists in New Zealand on purchasers of pseudoephedrine products and its provision to police. Method Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 50% of community pharmacies in New Zealand, with a second mailing to non‐responders. Results There was a response rate of 63%. 95% of pharmacists limited the quantity of pseudoephedrine products sold on each occasion. 45% asked for identification from all purchasers. Requesting/collecting identification resulted in various problems such as dealing with aggressive customers, and requiring time to attend court cases as a result of data provided to police. A major issue identified was the lack of feedback from police on information that had been provided. Nonetheless, there was support amongst pharmacists to continue to collect this information. Conclusion Although there were a number of problems encountered by pharmacists, many of these can be overcome.