Over the counter drug arrests

[The Straight Story]

Over the counter drug arrests


HALIFAX COUNTY (NC) — Two arrests are made for exceeding the limits of purchase of over the counter drugs stemming from an investigation into activity in April of last year.

Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit Lt. Chuck Hasty told the Daily Herald via e-mail, an investigation by Agent Tim Harris led to the arrest of Connie Crews Hux, 42, and Ruby May Holcomb, 64, both of Roanoke Rapids, for exceeding the pseudoepherine/ephedrine limits.

Hux was charged with 13 counts and jailed on $5,000 bond. Holcomb was charged with 16 counts and has a $2,500 bond. Their court date is set for Nov. 4.

Hasty said Harris began this investigation in April of 2008.

North Carolina State Law prohibits the purchase of more than two packages of certain products containing pseudoepherine/ephedrine per day and more than three packages of certain products containing pseudoephedrine/ephedrine within a 30 day period. Businesses are required to keep a purchase log of each sale of certain products containing pseudoepherine or ephedrine and must maintain them for two years. Businesses are required by law to provide this information to law enforcement per request.

http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2009/08/28/news/doc4a9821bf7e079790564375.txt

[moriah]

1. Exceeding by how much?

I do have to say I think the OTC limits are a little low. My doctor has to prescribe my Claritin-D since my maximum monthly dosage is higher than our limit. BTW: Mucinex-D extra strength is da bomb. I would hate it if I lost my insurance and then got put in jail with $5,000 bond for going over the limit.

At the same time, I hate meth. It killed my father.

[BuelahWitch]

8. Yes, heaven forbid you want to breathe, huh?

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, but I don't think locking up law abiding citizens with colds and allergies is going to cure meth labs.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. Everyone needs 13 times the limit to get over their allergies.

[moriah]

11. That's why I wanted to know how much they were exceeded by.

The way my doctor prescribes for me, 30 24-hour Claritin-D a month is twice the daily limit for Arkansas and just under the monthly limit.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

12. This is over the counter meds.

[moriah]

13. Exactly. Claritin-D 24 hour is OTC. I have to have it prescribed...

... because the amount my doctor wants me to take exceeds the limits.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

14. Meth is a huge problem. It is an inconvenience for the law abiding.

[moriah]

15. Believe me, I am very aware that Meth is a huge problem.

It killed my father.

He named me for it (Crystal), and also named my little sister for it (Tina).

The original article does not give much detail, though, on how much they purchased. That is why I asked by how much they were exceeding the limit.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

16. 16 and 13 counts respectively.

[moriah]

17. ... and was that in one month? One year? Two years?

Unfortunately innocents do get caught in the crossfire, and not just to be told "Go get a prescription" and given a slap on the wrist. I'm just glad I knew that I could have gotten in trouble, and I'm glad I have health insurance.

Man says stuffy nose did him in

Monday, September 22, 2008 11:59 PM CDT
By JOHN SKIPPER

MASON CITY — Gary Schinagel has suffered from chronic nasal congestion from the time he was a youngster. When he was a child growing up in Sheffield his family doctor told him, “Gary, this is something you’ll be dealing with all your life.” Little did he know.

Last Wednesday, Schinagel, 47, a senior investment associate at Principal Financial Group in Mason City, was arrested for the illegal purchase of pseudoephedrine. He routinely buys a generic brand of medicine to deal with his nasal condition and to help alleviate sinus headaches that are often a part of his condition.

<snip>

Schinagel isn’t sure which law he broke. What he is sure of is that on Wednesday, his niece called him and told him his name was in a story she read on the Globe Gazette Web site.

The story said he was one of the suspects still at large after a police pseudoephedrine roundup of violators.

He went to the sheriff’s office thinking he would clear up what was surely a mixup. Instead he was arrested, put in a holding room and told he needed $1,000 bail to get out.

<snip>

Schinagel, who has lived in Mason City since 2000, still banks in Sheffield. He called the bank and told them he needed to withdraw $1,000 and that a friend would come by to pick it up.

“It was embarrassing,” he said. “The woman at the bank recognized my voice. I sang in the choir with her in Sheffield.”

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. One month.

[moriah]

19. You're more familiar with the case than the article is then...

... It said the investigation began April of 2008 -- it could have been one package too many for each of the months since.

I can't seem to find any other articles that give any more details.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

20. No, the story says an investigation stemming from activity in April.

[moriah]

21. "Hasty said Harris began this investigation in April of 2008."

BTW: I'm not arguing to be obstreperous, nor do I disagree with the general premise behind the law. I don't disagree with the general premise behind most drug laws, it's that implementation with the least impact to peaceful citizens can be tricky.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

23. I would assume the investigation started the same month the crime was allegedly committed.

Two arrests are made for exceeding the limits of purchase of over the counter drugs stemming from an investigation into activity in April of last year.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Quite the non-story -

what's the point of the investigation? Were those ladies supposed to be running some kind of meth operation?

Totally uninformed story - big fat waste of time.................

[BuelahWitch]

3. They were probably just trying to fight off an allergy

This kind of thing sickens me. CVS was dinging me every time I turned around to buy a box of 10 generic Claritin D. Thank God I am able to go to the low cost clinic in town and get samples of real allergy meds and don't need those damn things now.

[eShirl]

4. "CVS was dinging me every time I turned around to buy a box of 10 generic Claritin D"

What's dinging?
You mean they were trying to tell you that you were over the limit for Claritin D? There aren't any legal limits on Claritin D.

[SleeplessInAlabama]

5. Anywhere there is a limit on pseudoephedrine, there is a limit on Claritin D. nt

[eShirl]

7. nevermind

nevermind

[BuelahWitch]

25. Yes, they'd tell me if I bought a box of 10 I'd be "over the limit"

I was doing some checking and at one point being "over the limit" in Kansas would have involved buying 3 boxes a day. I was only buying three a month (or less) to treat an allergy. No cold pills or anything else with pseudo ephedrine There's no way in hell I could afford to "smurf" even if I wanted to, that shit is expensive, a dollar a pill or more. So now I'm wondering if someone has snatched my identity or if they really don't allow us to treat an allergy every day of the month now. :-(

[jwirr]

6. There is a party going on about a mile from here - we can hear it. I

went to the store and walk in a 3 young men walk out with their cold medicine. I know this stuff is controlled now but our little store out here in the boondocks hasn't learned it yet.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. off topic: 22 year age difference, they look about the same age

[madokie]

22. If I'm not mistaking my state is the first to implement this law

and we seen a definite decline in the number of bust for manufacturing. It seems with the new shake and bake recipe its edging back up now though. Meth is a hideous drug and I thank my lucky stars each day I'm reminded that I never liked the buzz it gave.

[blueamy66]

24. Having to buy allergy meds from the pharmacy

is a giant pain in the ass.

I'm being punished for others' behaviors.