Parsons Meth Labs Decrease
They credit a recent change in city ordinance.
Parsons pharmacies can only sell pseudoephedrine to patients who have a prescription for the drug.
In his twelve years of practice, pediatrician Manish Dixit has seen dozens of Parsons children suffering from meth related health issues.
"They're more sick, they're sickness is not attended to, they're intellectually behind," says Dixit.That is why he's one of the biggest supporters of Parson's prescription only peudoephedrine ordinance.
"We take healthcare of children very seriously," says Dixit.
The change has been in effect for about a year, and Dixit has high hopes it will benefit local children.
"We've seen little improvement in the exposure to children. But, the impact will oly be noticed as time passes by," he says.
Parsons police officers, however, are seeing a huge difference already.
They seized 35 meth labs in 2011. The number dropped to 9 in 2012.
"I really believe that passing an ordinance making it prescription only is the answer to the problem, and the responsible answer," says Parsons Police Chief Scott Gofourth.
But Gofourth adds, the Parsons ordinance isn't enough on it's own.
"It can be better of other communities would follow suit," says Gofourth.
Those who can't get the medicine here go to other cities.
For that reason, pharmacist David Schoech opposes the ordinance.
"It's just really displaced the problem," says Schoech.
Schoech hopes to recruit nearby communities to adopt the ordinance.
"I think this is the right fix but i believe it needs to be state wide," he adds.
But, Dr. Dixit says he's thankful the problem has been tackled by the city.
"I think it's a good ordinance, it's already showed it's impact and willcontinue to show impacts as we go forward," says Dixit.
City officials have talked to other communities in southeast kansas about adopting the code.
So far, those cities haven't taken any action but chief gofourth hopes they will soon.
