Congestion Legislation

There’s a story posted on WTOK’s website about the Mississippi House of Representatives passing a law that requires a doctor’s prescription in order to purchase medications that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine. The reason this bill was introduced (and is needed) is because pseudoephedrine is an ingredient used to make meth. I don’t think I have to go into much detail about how dangerous and poisonous this drug is and how it can devastate the users and families of users of this drug. I also shouldn’t have to tell you how dangerous a meth lab is but I do wonder if that’s the case, seeing as all anyone commenting on the story is worried about is how this is an inconvenience to them and since the government is trying to take over our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen: Ignorance is not bliss.

Just in case you don’t know, I’m a volunteer firefighter and an EMT. Anytime I get paged to go to a house fire (whether I’m going to fight the fire with the fire department or going to stand-by with EMS), I always keep in the back of my mind, “is this a meth lab” and “will there be an explosion and someone (maybe me?) get injured (or worse) by it.” Sure, anything can happen at a fire for any number of reasons but a meth lab only increases the odds of something bad happening to an emergency responder or bystander. The fumes produced by a meth lab are highly toxic and highly explosive. Do you know what’s in meth? I won’t bore you with all the details but if you want to read up on what chemicals are used in the home brewing of meth and all of the fumes that are present, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine#Illicit_production. Do you really want that around your family and friends? Even worse, do you want to put this poison into your body voluntarily? The obvious (and sane) response is “no.” However, what amazes me is how many people are opposed to the law that makes it harder to poison us.

Here’s some food for though: If your next door neighbor or even an upstairs neighbor in an apartment complex has a meth lab, you, your family and friends are breathing in the fumes at any time you or them are at your house or apartment. Just because there isn’t visible smoke doesn’t mean there aren’t fumes. These fumes are also highly explosive. One spark at the right time is all it would take in order to level a good chunk of your neighborhood. If your house is blown to bits and you and your family are inside, there’s a good chance I will be recovering you instead of rescuing you. Think about that if you ever get the urge to complain about “big brother” making you go to the doctor to get Claritin D.

What’s wrong with these people? I can’t believe that all they can see is how much control the government is exercising over us and how it’ll be inconvenient to get a prescription. Are they really that selfish? They should be ashamed of themselves. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices in order to benefit the greater good. I don’t mind having to go through my doctor to get Sudafed if it means that some meth head and meth pusher will have it that much harder to make their poison. The fact that so many people are complaining about this law just astounds me. It’s inconceivable to me that people would want these drugs to continue to be easily accessible, thereby making meth that much easier to make

I would rather be able to not have to worry about walking into a meth lab when called to a house fire and I would rather not have to worry about my fellow firefighters, EMS personnel and other responders having the same fears. We need to support legislation that will make the manufacture of meth tougher. We also don’t need to put down the government when, for once, they’re actually doing their job.

They’re protecting us. All of us.

Jonathan