KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - MethShield Kicks off in Kansas
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by Rebecca Gannon(WICHITA, Kan.) -
The drug used to make meth is behind the counter in Kansas. If you have a cold and need pseudoephedrine, the pharmacy stores your information.
Wichita is getting the first database in the nation that immediately shares that information with other pharmacies. It's called Meth Shield, and it'll eventually be used in 128 pharmacies across the state of Kansas.
Pharmacists keep track of a lot of things; how many pills per bottle, which medicines do - and don't - mix. "We're trying to be the gate keepers for the community," said Mike Dandurand.
But they can't police all their pills - and patients. Until now - thanks to a small scan pad.
The next time you go into a pharmacy to get some pseudo-ephedrine - like Sudafed - for your stuffy nose, it'll involve handing over your drivers license as usual. But now, your drivers license goes into a system - and it's tracked by drug stores and law enforcement across the state to track your purchase.
It's called Meth-Shield. The program keeps a record of who buys pseudo ephedrine when, and how much. It's connected to a database that pharmacies can access immediately. Until now the information was simply stored in case law enforcement ever needed it -- not shared with other pharmacies.
Some customers think this is a technological triumph. "I think it's a great idea," said Monica Wolf. "Somebody's got to do it. We have to start somewhere. We aren't going to get better if we don't start somewhere."
Anita Hull isn't so sure. "You might need this drug today, but maybe you again need it next week. And then people are watching you. It could be a Big Brother thing, kind of situation."
The program creators believe this program could track other drugs in the future. But for now, it'll track the drug used to make meth and potentially, the people making it. Dandurand summed it up: "Then bad guys can be what they are - caught as bad guys."
