Councilman discusses requiring prescriptions for medicines containing pseudoephedrine

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A city councilman is looking into requiring people to have a prescription before buying medications with pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used to make meth.

Councilman Jeff Seifried is not saying he supports having a prescription to buy these drugs. He wants to start a discussion.

"I've seen the effects it has on people in my zone and in Springfield. It's real. It's not out of sight, out of mind for me," he said.

Jeff Seifried oversees Zone 1. That's the northwest side of Springfield. Police have busted more meth labs here than anywhere else in town. He has not made up his mind if he supports banning over-the-counter sales of meds with pseudoephedrine.

"The languages I have asked to be drafted deals with pseudoephedrine. The reason why I asked for that is to kick off the discussion. I want to know what can we do? Is that something that's working on other communities. If so, do we need to look at it for Springfield?" he asked.

In just one year, between 2010-2011 the number of meth labs found in Springfield nearly doubled to more than 100. Officials say this conversation is long over due.

Seifried hopes to have this discussion in a committee and hopefully a public forum.

Both Hollister and Branson passed bills recently requiring people to have a prescription before buying medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

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Councilman discusses requiring prescriptions for medicines containing pseudoephedrine