This Is Not The Country We're Supposed To Be Living In: The Form You Have To Sign To Get Cold Medicine At The Drugstore
Sickeningly, in order to get some relief from a very bad cold I'm suffering from, this is the form I had to sign at CVS after I had my privacy violated by government order: I had to hand over my driver's license so the pharmacist could record my name and address for the government. 
Sickeningly, in order to get some relief from a very bad cold I'm suffering from, this is the form I had to sign at CVS after I had my privacy violated by government order: I had to hand over my driver's license so the pharmacist could record my name and address for the government.
I was buying cold medicine -- Mucinex-D, with pseudoephedrine -- which you can only buy from behind the counter, with a disgusting privacy violation.
I found the code mentioned -- and the threat within -- here.
By the way, you, as Joe Ordinary Citizen, are expected to know that you can only purchase so many pseudoephedrine pills per month, or your freedom can be taken from you by mouth-foaming DEA agents.
That said, I was only allowed to buy one package of 18 pills, not two. There was a 24-pack, but it had double the dosage of pseudoephedrine and I didn't want that one. (I get the extended release and I was worried that cutting the pills might result in an inexact dosage or might screw up the extended release.)
It is HORRIFYING and wrong that ordinary citizens who have done nothing wrong are treated as criminals by their government because they want to fly to see grandma or because they want medication for their cold.
(Of course, the cold medicine the government allows sold OTC has been shown to be LESS EFFECTIVE THAN A PLACEBO.)
Oh, and one last disgusting thing: I got home from the drugstore and thought I'd forgotten the bag with my Mucinex-D, St. Ives face wash, and deodorant back in the cart, and I was suddenly terrified.
Yes, beyond the cost of the items and the pain in the ass it would be to go back to the drugstore, I was afraid I would go to jail.
This is appalling and this is not the country we are supposed to be living in.
The DEA and too many other sectors of government have far too much power. I have no idea how that power would be rolled back. We haven't been able to do it with the TSA.
Well, I hope those of you who are silent have enjoyed your rights while you've had them.
Wave bye-bye to the nice Constitution!
If you have access to a reputable (been in business for years) herbalist you might get some relief via herbal teas, smudges, and breathing in vapors.
Either Mexican or Chinese, but I would think local plants would be better.
Our medicines and were used for generations to soothe and heal.
Bob in Texas at August 31, 2013 5:59 AM
I don't see warnings like that when I get my own prescription medication.
Patrick at August 31, 2013 6:12 AM
Living in a neighboring county to the meth capital of the world, l've had to sign these statements at my pharmacy for pseudoephrdrine. It annoys me that only methmakers can breathe freely while I wonder about getting profiled by the local pd.
justme at August 31, 2013 6:21 AM
Obviously you aren't a vicious felon like like this woman.
Jim P. at August 31, 2013 6:47 AM
You know, those limits on buyers are ridiculous (in addition to being rights-erroding). If you have a large family who all get bad hayfever, you are going to go over the limit simply because you aren't going to have little Susie, Johnny, Joe, Mary, and Elizabeth each go sign out their OWN decongestants. No, you'll leave them at home with the other parent and go get the decongestant. So 6 people's 30-day does is... probably well over the limit.
But wait! The law says you can't do that so you have Susie and Johnny (your eldest) get their report cards (valid ID for minors purchasing these things) and you hand them the money to buy their own so you don't get carted off to jail. The similarity between having your kids buy the medicine for you and kids having an adult buy them beer is not lost on you.
But wait! We forgot that the federal government is against homeschooling. Sure, there are many states that are just as happy to take your tax dollars and NOT educate your kids, but not so the federal government. Since you homeschool Susie and Johnny, they don't have report cards - and your younger kids aren't school-aged yet. So now you either have to go get them state-issued ID cards OR have your spouse come with you (bringing all the snuffly snotting kids) to buy the medicine.
Of course, in any of these cases, you'll still likely get a call from the DEA since you all have the same address. So, we can see that the government is, in fact, promoting the downfall of happily-married families. In cases of divorce, the parents will have different addresses and this simply won't be an issue.
Shannon M. Howell at August 31, 2013 7:24 AM
I had a friend that was "luckily?" stopped at the local pharmany before she could buy too much medicine. She bought some for her husband before he left on a trip and tried to get more for her teenage son who had grown ill. This law would make more sense if colds and the flu weren't contagious to other members of the family, but the way I see it, step away. I'd like to see all drugs legal. Let's try education instead.
Jen at August 31, 2013 7:28 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/08/this-is-not-the.html#comment-3884282">comment from Bob in TexasEither Mexican or Chinese, but I would think local plants would be better. Our medicines and were used for generations to soothe and heal.
Bob, Chinese medicine is filled with stuff people THINK works and is often dangerous. Herbalists use untested stuff that they believe works that often does not.
Pseudoephedrine works well, as does the old Dayquil that has pseudoephedrine, some of which I still have. I want the medicine that I know works. Why would I not just take the pseudoephedrine, same as I did for my flight (to combat motion sickness)?
Our fucking government has put cold medicine on the shelves that people assume work that does not.
I resent that I felt a deep pang of fear at possibly leaving my medicine (and deodorant and St. Ives) in a cart at the store. (I had my tiny dog Aida with me in the drugstore in a case, and when I took her out to put her in a sling to walk to the car, I put the medicine and other items in her case.)
Amy Alkon
at August 31, 2013 7:38 AM
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska?
Patrick at August 31, 2013 8:41 AM
This intrusive form brought to you by the War on Drugs, that event which has enriched Sicilian families and outlaw motorcycle gangs for 40 years. Thanks, War on Drugs!
mpetrie98 at August 31, 2013 10:02 AM
One used to be able to get peusdophedrine in liquid form. It was for children. I liked it since I'm a very cheap date when it comes to decongestants and antihistamines. Also it's a pain to cut those tiny pills in half. Sigh.
Janet C at August 31, 2013 1:12 PM
I live in Oregon where you cannot get pseudoephedrine without a prescription. This means I need to try to get an appointment reasonably quickly when I get sick/allergies, miss work to go, and then pay out the ass at a pharmacy. Or I have to drive up to Washington and sign my life away. All of this is a giant hassle and have become a devotee to Afrin for stuffy noses and sinus congestion, which so far doesn't require a prescription of filling out a phonebook thick of forms.
BunnyGirl at August 31, 2013 1:35 PM
Anyone here ever buy a syringe? It turns out that if you need to buy a box of syringes, you have to fill out a rather similar log book. Why might you need to buy a box of syringes if you aren't a drug addict? Because you are diabetic, perhaps?
I found this out when one of our cats developed diabetes.
I'm no doctor, but I'm thinking there might be lots of people who are perfectly innocent who use syringes on a regular basis.
Shannon M. Howell at August 31, 2013 1:49 PM
I live in Oregon where you cannot get pseudoephedrine without a prescription. This means I need to try to get an appointment reasonably quickly when I get sick/allergies, miss work to go, and then pay out the ass at a pharmacy.
This is true. Obtaining a box of Advil Cold & Sinus (or the generic equivalent) in Oregon requires making a doctor's appointment. It's infuriating, and turns an $8 OTC purchase into upwards of $50.
I'm not an illegal drug user, but even I knew where to get meth within 5 minutes of my house, and it was easier to get the meth than it was the pseudoephedrine raw ingredient.
Kevin at August 31, 2013 6:58 PM
Anyone here ever buy a syringe? It turns out that if you need to buy a box of syringes, you have to fill out a rather similar log book. Why might you need to buy a box of syringes if you aren't a drug addict? Because you are diabetic, perhaps?
In my state diabetic syringes are OTC with no ID requiered. But you need ID to buy psudafed. WTF?
Anonymous Coward at August 31, 2013 10:43 PM
Everyone needs to start sueing state and federal legislators in small claims court to recover the costs of the money they lose due to their assinine policies
lujlp at September 1, 2013 9:05 AM
Everyone needs to quit voting for Democrat and Republican state and federal legislators.
Ken R at September 1, 2013 11:05 AM
Hey, at least we've made it impossible for anyone to make dangerous methamphetamines.
clinky at September 1, 2013 1:45 PM
DRUGS ARE BAD. IF THIS LAW STOPS JUST ONE PERSON FROM DOING DRUGS IT'S WORTH ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THE REST OF US. IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE, YOU'RE A SURRENDER MONKEY IN THE WAR ON DRUGS AND YOU'LL NEVER TASTE MY FREEDOM FRIES.
CBD at September 1, 2013 11:55 PM
Hey, at least we've made it impossible for anyone to make dangerous methamphetamines.
I think I'd rather be doing meth than putting up with all this crap. After all, if the po-po are this desperate to stop it, it can't be all bad. :-)
mpetrie98 at September 2, 2013 2:00 PM
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