Thursday, June 24, 2010

When Good Intentions Result in Bureaucratic Bullshit

When they outlaw sudafed, only outlaws will have sudafed.

I began my morning by being turned down for the purchase of sudafed at Walmart. No explanation was given. Same thing happened at Meijers.

So I called the Kentucky Drug Control Policy (502-564-9564.)  I was informed I had purchased 4.8 grams in the last 30 days. The limit is 9 grams per 30 day period. They could not explain why I was denied.  

So I called the FDA (888-463-6332.) Thanks to the FDA, I was able to calculate that a box of twenty, 12 hour sudafeds is equal to 2.4 grams.  So by my math, I could purchase 3 boxes per month.  Mathematically speaking, there is no reason why I cannot buy it.  I have up to 4.2 grams I can buy and only wanted 2.4 grams.

The FDA recommended I called the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy (502-564-7910.) I went through their menu and spoke to someone (Darla) and she gave me a phone number for the company that supports Methcheck.   

She explained to me why the law was in place. I told her I don't care about people stupid enough to take drugs that will kill them like crystal meth.  Maybe I am unsympathetic, but I really feel there is a level of self-accountability that everyone should have. 

So I called the number and got a Spanish recording that immediately hung up on me.

I called the Pharmacy Board back and spoke with Brian. He transferred me to the DEA. Well, he actually put me into a voice mail box that finally directed me to hit "0" for assistance. I was then told there was no assistance available and it told me to hang up and call back.

I called the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy a third time in a row. The connected me to the Kentucky Drug Control Policy (502-564-9564) and I spoke with the lady AGAIN who I first spoke with.

I was not impressed by the lack of competency of the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy because I had to call them 3 times.  

Who is accountable?  Who do I go to for answers?  Why am I having to deal with bureaucratic bullshit to buy sudafed?

Seriously, should it be this hard to find out why I am being denied much less to buy this stuff? 

Am I going to be hanging outside of drug stores trying to find people to by me sudafed, next to all the underage kids trying to get adults to buy them alcohol?

I am still waiting for the Drug Control Policy lady to call me back because she needed to call the people at MethCheck to find out why I am being denied.

If we could only make illegally entering our country this hard.

2 comments:

  1. Dude, Sudafed is now a controled substance. Pretty soon, you'll have to have a prescription to buy anything "over the counter." But before you can actually get it, you'll have to pass an exam; have social workers come to your home to find out why you even need them; and if you are a suitable candidate for the Sudafed to begin with. A DNA sample, a weekly urine sample and a sworn oath that you'll vote democratic and you too can get Sudafed for three times the cost. Ain't America great?

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  2. Yet foreigners can come here illegally and collect welfare and social security without showing any ID. :/

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