Cold Medicines Are Tracked in New York

A recent trip to purchase some multi-symptom cold relief left a coworker bewildered when he was asked for identification.

For several years, in an attempt to slow the problem of methamphetamine manufacture in the state, New York has required an identification check on some cold/allergy medications and more intense tracking for other items.

Many of the medications in question contain amphetamine, which is a precursor to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Criminals have routinely purchased large amounts of medication, primarily in the form of pills, to grind up, mix with other substances like fertilizer, and use in the manufacture of the illegal drug. But liquid OTC remedies, like cough medicine, have required the customer to produce identification.

As authorities started paying closer attention to large purchases, meth lab operators turned to a number of operatives to assist in buying smaller, harder to track quantities, prompting the state legislation requiring the tracking of amphetamine purchases.

In some cases, medication is being kept behind the counter and customers are required to not only provide identification but request that the medication be retrieved for them.