Georgia becomes state No. 33 to adopt NPLEx

WASHINGTON - Georgia earlier this week became state No. 33 to adopt the real-time, stop-sale technology called the National Precursor Log Exchange, a blocking system used across the country which prevents the illegal sale of pseudoephedrine, an ingredient sometimes used in the production of methamphetamine. 

 

Aside from blocking illegal sales at the pharmacy counter, the NPLEx system provides law enforcement with valuable, real-time data on potential criminal activity. The legislation – sponsored by state Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, and Sen. Renee Unterman, R-45th district – was approved by the Georgia legislature and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal on April 26.

 

Georgia is the last state in the southeast to adopt NPLEx, as all of its neighboring states – South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina – adopted the system in previous years.

 

"CHPA commends the leadership of the Georgia legislature and Gov. Nathan Deal in the adoption of NPLEx and their participation in this successful national effort in the fight against meth," stated Scott Melville, president and CEO Consumer Healthcare Products Association. "We also applaud legislators, law enforcement and pharmacists across all 33 states working together to stop the illegal diversion of PSE, while ensuring that law-abiding citizens continue to have access to these safe and effective nonprescription cold and allergy medicines."

 

The announcement comes on the heels of a recent report from the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators showing that so far this year between Jan. 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016, that NPLEx has blocked the illegal sale of 395,394 boxes of medicine containing PSE, keeping 1 million grams of PSE out of the hands of criminals.