The results of a recent survey conducted by a California-based research group shows that Mississippi voters strongly oppose making cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine available by prescription only.

David Binder Research, headquartered in San Francisco, conducted the survey from January 14-23. It involved 350 Mississippi state residents aged 18 or over, all of whom voted in the last election, and has a margin-of-error of plus or minus 5.2 percent. Results of the survey, sponsored by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), were released Tuesday.

CHPA is the 129-year-old-trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplements.

According to poll results, almost two-thirds of Mississippi voters surveyed oppose making common cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine available by prescription only. Seventy-four percent agree that a prescription-only requirement would create an “unnecessary burden” for law-abiding citizens.

Also, a large majority of respondents agree that a prescription-only mandate would place an unnecessary burden on families, significantly increase consumer costs, and hurt the state’s finances at the worst possible time.

Survey results come as the Mississippi Legislature decides whether to require a doctor’s prescription to buy cold and allergy medicine containing pseudoephedrine. A Mississippi House committee approved a measure earlier this week and on Thursday the Mississippi House approved the bill to require a doctor’s prescription to buy cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine.

Supporters say the measure will curtail meth production by limiting accessibility to pseudoephedrine. Opponents have said the change would be burdensome. They also contend that meth makers would likely cross state lines to buy the cold medicine.

The measure was passed 105-15 after lengthy debate that included some lawmakers discussing how the escalating meth problem had impacted their families.

A news release listing the findings of the CHPA-sponsored study results, contends that the Mississippi House approved its measure without any hearings to consider alternatives that do not limit access to pseudoephedrine -containing medicines by legitimate consumers, such as real-time electronic tracking (e-Tracking) of pseudoephedrine purchases at the pharmacy or service counter.

“E-Tracking is successfully being implemented across a growing number of states, including neighboring Louisiana in the near future,” the release states. “Two-thirds (66 percent) of those surveyed support such a system in Mississippi, as well.

“The proposed prescription legislation flies in the face of Mississippi voter sentiment.”

According to the study, 61 percent of Mississippi voters surveyed are opposed to an prescription-only law and 59 percent indicate they feel the legislative train is speeding forward too fast.

During Thursday’s Legislative session, there were several attempts to change House Bill 512.

Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, unsuccessfully tried to change the bill to add a minimum 10-year sentence for a first-offense meth conviction and a 20-year sentence on a second offense.

And Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, tried to insert a two-year repealer in the bill so lawmakers could revisit the measure after determining if it had been effective. That proposal also failed.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation also is pending.

Most legislators say Mississippi’s meth problem has become an epidemic, but Rep. Bryant Clark, D-Pickens, said he doesn't believe the proposal would reduce the state's drug activity.

“We’re assuming that Mississippi has a gate or fence around it,” Clark said. “They’re going to drive to Memphis, Little Rock and everywhere in between to get (pseudoephedrine). If we can't stop cocaine from coming from Columbia, how are we going to stop Sudafed from coming from Tennessee?”

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant expressed his concern about what he called misinformation that is “being used to try to defeat legislation that would strike a blow at manufacturing crystal methamphetamine in Mississippi.”

To clarify the confusion, he asked the Mississippi Independent Pharmacists Association to provide a list of those drugs that will be affected by the legislation that makes pseudoephedrine, a Schedule III or prescription-only drug, and those products that will continue to be available on the shelf without the need for a prescription.

“It is important to remember that the Mississippi Independent Pharmacists Association fully supports this legislation,” said Bryant. “The use and manufacture of crystal methamphetamine has become an epidemic in the state.

“Simply by making the key component, pseudoephedrine, a prescription drug, we can drastically reduce the manufacture and distribution of crystal meth. I believe that is a small inconvenience for such a powerful effect.”



The Associated Press contributed to this article.