Claremore Anti-Meth Activist Wins Victory Against Pseudoephedrine Sales

Staff and wire reports

Editor's note: Associated Press issued a correction to this story early Monday.  The Holdenville city council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring a prescription for the dry tablet form of medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Consumers can still purchase liquid or gel caps without a prescription.

HOLDENVILLE, Oklahoma -- A Claremore anti-meth activist has won a victory.  David Starkey has convinced the small Oklahoma town of Holdenville to ban the sale of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the production of meth.

Starkey says he wants the drug banned as a way to protect innocent victims harmed by meth addiction. He says he hopes other cities also enact the ban.

Starkey says he can lobby individual communities to pass similar bans, a step the Legislature hasn't taken in its own effort to combat methamphetamine.

Starkey has the backing of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which says the ban will slow meth production.

5/4/2011 Related Story: Ordinance Would Require Prescription For Certain Cold Medicines

The Associated Press contributed to this report.