Missouri town restricts sales of medicine used in meth

WASHINGTON — People buying certain cold medicines in the eastern Missouri town of Washington will need a prescription after the City Council voted to crack down on a main ingredient in methamphetamine.

The new ordinance targets the chemical pseudoephedrine (soo-doh-eh-FEHD'-rihn), which is used in decongestants like Sudafed and some other cold medications. Missouri law requires retailers to keep medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy counters, but consumers don't need prescriptions.

Franklin County typically ranks among the top counties for meth lab busts in Missouri, which is among the top states in production of the illegal drug.

Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Jason Grellner says he's on a mission to get all cities in Franklin County to follow Washington's lead in requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine.