The Associated Press reported April 22 that Kansas recently restricted the sale of cold medicines and other products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in a bid to thwart the production of methamphetamine. But the move has increased worries about pharmacy robberies and more involvement of organized crime in meth production and sales. "This is a crime of addiction, and while we've made a key ingredient harder to get, we've done nothing for the addiction," said Rice County Sheriff Steve Bundy, a member of the Kansas Governor's Meth Task Force.

Added Howard Shipley of the Hutchinson/Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit: "The vast majority of addicts don't work. Most of them trade or supply the manufacturers with ingredients. Once that's dried up, where are the users going to come up with the money to pay for meth?"

"Kansas will realize an immediate effect from this law," said Bundy. "We'll have safer state parks and rural areas because they can't find an alternative ingredient. I expect calls of anhydrous ammonia thefts and drop-off sites to nearly fall from the radar screen. But I still have a lot of skepticism because we're dealing with a crime of addiction."

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