MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Tennessee is on track to have the worst methamphetamine lab production problem in the country according to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn.
The Tennessean reports that during a 30 minute budget presentation for the Governor yesterday, Gwyn noted that other states have moved to make the drugs used to make meth available by prescription only.
Tennessee hasn’t taken that step to date, but it has enacted regulations to restrict the sale of over the counter cold medications and to track buyers who purchase them.
In response, meth producers have started paying individuals to buy cold medications for them one package at a time, a practice called smurfing.
The Tennessee Pharmacist Association recently started an anti-smurfing campaign. Director Baeteena Black is the Association President.
“Smurfing is a serious criminal offense and is contributing significantly to methamphetamine production in our state. So we’re trying to make them aware and trying to assist in convincing them in not participating at all in that type of activity.”
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association is opposed to making the sale of cold medications by prescription only.