Medicine Misuse

TITLE: MEDICINE MISUSE 8-00-08 (Three Part Version)

ANCHOR LEAD

COUGHING, SNEEZING, STUFFY HEAD, WATERY EYES…WHEN YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS, YOU MAY REACH FOR A COLD AND SINUS MEDICINE. BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE REACHING FOR THESE PRODUCTS FOR A FAR MORE DANGEROUS REASON. AS ________ REPORTS, EFFORTS CONTINUE TO CRACKDOWN ON THOSE WHO USE OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINE TO MANUFACTURE ILLEGAL STREET DRUGS.

#1 Length :46

WRAP ONE Length :17
COUGH AND COLD REMEDIES ARE DESIGNED TO RELIEVE THE SYMPTOMS. BUT MANY OF THESE MEDICINES CONTAIN EPHEDRINE AND PSEUDOPHEDRINE. UNDERGROUND CHEMISTS CAN TAKE THESE LEGAL CHEMICALS AND TURN THEM INTO METHAMPHETAMINE. DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PHILIP DONOHUE SAYS IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr.CA Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Length :09
People are very dangerous on methamphetamine. Agitation, anxiety, paranoia, violence. The people are tuned up."

WRAP TWO Length :08
MEDICINES LIKE SUDAFED, TYLENOL COLD AND ACTIFED CAN BE TURNED INTO METH. IT'S EASY FOR TECH-SAVVY KIDS THESE DAYS TO FIND HUNDREDS OF METH RECIPES.

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr.CA Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Length :07
"You have elementary school children using methamphetamine. You have juniors, junior high school, high school and college, and then adults."

WRAP THREE Length :03
COMING UP…HOW STATES ARE COMBATING THE METH PROBLEM.

#2 Length :53

ACT :Customer Length :04
"If they're doing it for illegal drugs then they should limit it."

WRAP FOUR Length :20
THAT'S WHAT CONSUMERS SAY ABOUT RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF COLD PILLS. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO PASS A METHAMPHETAMINE CONTROL ACT, MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO BUY MORE THAN THREE PACKAGES OF OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS CONTAINING EPHEDRINE IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. RIC GRENNEL OF THE SAN DIEGO MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE CITY PASSED A SIMILAR ORDINANCE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.

WRAP FIVE Length :18
IN MISSOURI, IT'S A FELONY FOR A CLERK TO KNOWINGLY SELL DRUGS THAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE METH. IOWA, OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS HAVE ALSO LIMITED SALES. ON THE RETAIL LEVEL…COSTCO AND WAL-MART HAVE VOLUNTARILY ADOPTED LIMITS ON BULK PURCHASES OF COLD PRODUCTS. IN A MOMENT…CLEANING UP THE METH MESS.

#3 Length :31

WRAP SIX Length :14
LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENTS INVESTIGATING CASES, LIMIT INFORMATION ON THE MANUFACTURE OF THE DRUGS AND STIFFEN PENALTIES FOR DISTRIBUTION. DRUG OFFICER PHILIP DONOHUE:

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr.CA "Methamphetamine is an equal opportunity destroyer."Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Length :03

WRAP SEVEN Length :14
METHAMPHETAMINE USE HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDWEST AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. EVEN BLISTER, OR SAFE HARBOR PACKAGING HAS NOT DETERED CRIMINALS. AUTHORITIES HOPE MORE STATES WILL TAKE ACTION.

WRAP EIGHT Length :
Local Talent Wrap

LOCAL ANCHOR LOCKOUT

A RECENT REPORT SHOWS THAT CHILDREN MAY BE THE BIGGEST VICTIMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE LABS. CHILDREN ARE FOUND AT ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE DANGEROUS AND HIGHLY TOXIC METH LABS THAT ARE RAIDED BY POLICE. THEY ARE OFTEN ISOLATED, NEGLECTED, HOSTILE AND VIOLENT IN THEIR PLAY. BY THE TIME THEY HIT SIXTH GRADE, THESE KIDS ARE OFTEN USING DRUGS, WITH THEIR PARENTS PERMISSION.

TITLE: MEDICINE MISUSE 8-00-08A (Single Part Version)

ANCHOR LEAD

WRAP ONE Length :16
COUGH AND COLD REMEDIES MAY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER…UNTIL YOU LEARN THAT PRODUCTS LIKE SUDAFED, TYLENOL COLD AND ACTIFED CONTAIN EPHEDRINE AND PSEUDOPHEDRINE, WHICH UNDERGROUND CHEMISTS CAN TURN INTO METHAMPHETAMINE. DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PHILIP DONOHUE SAYS IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr. CA Bureau of Narcotic Enf. Length :09
"People are very dangerous on methamphetamine. Agitation, anxiety, paranoia, violence. The people are tuned up."

WRAP TWO Length :11
METH LABS THEMSELVES ARE HAZARDOUS. AND IT'S EASY FOR TECH-SAVVY KIDS THESE DAYS TO FIND METH RECIPES. METH USE HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC LEVELS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDWEST AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr.CA Bureau of Narcotic Enf. Length :07
"You have elementary school children using methamphetamine. You have juniors, junior high school, high school and college, and then adults."

WRAP THREE Length :30
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST TO PASS A METHAMPHETAMINE CONTROL ACT, MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO BUY MORE THAN THREE PACKAGES OF OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS CONTAINING EPHEDRINE IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. IN MISSOURI, IT'S A FELONY FOR A CLERK TO KNOWINGLY SELL DRUGS THAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE METH. IOWA, OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS HAVE ALSO LIMITED SALES. ON THE RETAIL LEVEL…COSTCO AND WAL-MART HAVE VOLUNTARILY LIMITED BULK PURCHASES OF COLD PRODUCTS. DRUG OFFICER PHILIP DONOHUE SAYS MORE STATES NEED TO RESTRICT SALES.

ACT :Philip Donohue, Jr.CA Bureau of Narcotic Enf. Length :03
"Methamphetamine is an equal opportunity destroyer."

WRAP FOUR Length :
Local Talent Wrap

LOCAL ANCHOR LOCKOUT

Contacts:

Katina Kypridakes
Criminal Intelligence Specialist Supervisor
California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement
555 West Beach Street, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101
619-645-2401

She was not interviewed on tape but has lots of firsthand information on the underground labs and on state laws.

Philip J. Donohue, Jr.
Special Agent in Charge
California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement
555 West Beach Street, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101
858-268-5309

Localization Tips:

Call the DEA or your local drug task force (usually located in the office of the attorney general) and find out if there has been a problem with cold remedies in your area.
Interview local lawmakers about the move nationwide to limit the sale of cold remedies.
Is there a drug manufacturer in your area? If there is, ask for a response.